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Fighting to Be
September 15, 2010
Review and Photos by Adam McCormick
Rene "White Boy" Rodriguez looks like a fighter. He's the kinda guy your girlfriend bumps into at the bar and you spend the next five minutes apologizing to. His arms are covered in tattoos, an anarchy symbol graces his right shoulder, his shaved head is complimented by a thick brown beard, and his face is covered in scars, cuts, and bruises.
For Rodriguez, his look seems to define his life. The "White Boy" grew up around Hialeah and was forced into foster care at age 11 after his father was arrested. At a young age, Rodriguez gained the nickname "White Boy" while fighting in the local parks.
"It's always been my name, I only spoke English, I didn't want people to think I was Cuban. I would listen to people talk in Spanish around me, see if they were talking shit."
As a way to channel his desire to fight, Rodriguez turned to the South Florida backyard fighting circuit, the same one made famous by Kimbo Slice.
"When my boy got beat up, I had to rep my hood. It was about money, respect, and hoes. Hell of a therapy."
Rodriguez stepped into the backyard ring at 27, a natural from the start, his taunting and fierce knockouts made him a fan favorite in Hialeah and cyberspace; his fights quickly amassed over 60,000 views on YouTube.
"He's the kinda guy your girlfriend bumps into at the bar and you spend the next five minutes apologizing to."
Backyard fighting acted as a semi-legal outlet for his aggression, "in the streets, you go to jail when you fight, after a backyard fight you shake hands," he says.
"White Boy" realized fighting could become his profession.
"In the backyard fights, you start off low, $500 if you win, and if you lost... you got a free ass whoopin’ on the house," says Rodriguez with a wry smile.
After a few fights, promoters recognized another "YouTube Sensation," Kimbo Slice cash cow in the making. Recruited to box professionally, "White Boy" compiled a 1-1 record.
The transition from part time backyard brawler to full time professional fighter has not been easy. With three young children, two boys and one girl, Rodriguez does not have the time he wishes he had. A custody battle with the children's mother means he only gets to see his children on the weekend, a time he spends in the gym.
"My oldest, she's six, she comes to the gym and watches me train. Her grandma doesn't like that, she said 'she's a girl.' Now she does ballet."
Rodriguez's drive to continue fighting comes from his children. He glances down at the ground and his voice softens, "I used to look up to my dad, I look up to my kids now. They're my future, they're the reason."
Two months ago, "White Boy" began training for his first professional mixed martial arts fight. He hopes his street fighting skills will translate into a successful MMA career.
"I think about it one fight at a time. Anyone can promise the stars," he says.
His first fight is only the very beginning step of what will be a long difficult battle for financial security and fighting relevancy. Rodriguez hopes the hard work in the gym and time away from his children will someday pay off.
"I wanna achieve greatness, I don't wanna be where my life is now, I wanna be where it could be."
Wanna see the "White Boy" in action? Highlight Reel
Send Adam your feedback! writers@outloud.com