Bam’s back yard: Pound-for-pound star hunts for San Antonio’s next Top Dog

Pound-for-pound standout Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez returned to familiar surroundings in San Antonio this weekend, bringing global attention back to the city through a community-led collaboration with streetwear brand GREYGXDS.

Delivered from inside Top Dog Boxing – the Rodriguez family gym, run by Bam’s brother, former WBA Super Flyweight World Champion Joshua Franco – the event struck a careful balance between culture and craft.

The setting was open and accessible throughout, giving local youngsters the chance to connect directly with one of the sport’s leading figures, while also bringing to life a considered partnership built around shared values.

From the outset, the collaboration was clear. An exclusive Bam x GREYGXDS merchandise capsule anchored the day, with limited edition tees and accessories released on-site.

The drop gave the event its own identity, bringing in a broad mix of people and setting the tone for what followed – a space where boxing, fashion and community naturally intersected.

Alongside the limited edition merchandise release, raffles and giveaways ran throughout the afternoon, adding another layer of engagement for those in attendance.

Prizes reflected the local influence behind the event: bespoke Everlast gloves, individually tattooed by San Antonio artist Armando Garza; GREYGXDS promotional packs; and tickets to see San Antonio-born rapper Ramirez perform.

Around the gym, local businesses played a visible role in shaping the atmosphere, with Eight Ball Coffee and Smacks Chicken Shack providing fresh food and drink, supported by Creature Coffee Co and Oatly.

Their involvement gave the event a strong local feel, with people and organisations from across the community playing their part and adding something of their own to the day.

With the energy established, attention shifted to the gym floor for a structured, high-tempo boxing circuit designed to give young participants a real sense of the sport.

Groups rotated through stations covering boxing fundamentals such as stance and balance, shadow boxing, pad work, conditioning and bag drills – each led by a combination of local coaches and Bam himself.

Bam stayed involved throughout, moving between stations and working in with each group as the session unfolded. It kept things grounded and consistent, giving young boxers the chance to spend proper time alongside him rather than just a brief moment.

Community leaders also stepped into the ring for a short spell, a simple but effective way of showing how boxing continues to reach beyond the ropes across the city.

Speaking after the session, Bam was clear on what the day meant to him, both personally and in terms of what it represented for the city.

“It’s always special being back home in San Antonio. To be able to come here, bring people together and do something like this at Top Dog – it means everything to me,” beamed the pound-for-pound star.

“There’s so much talent in this city, so to spend time with the kids, work with them and just give them that experience – that’s what it’s all about,” he continued.

“Linking up with GREYGXDS as well, it just made sense. It wasn’t just about boxing, it was about putting something on for the community and giving people something they can be part of. Days like this, you see how much it means.”

The impact of the event extended beyond the activity itself. All proceeds raised through the various raffles will be reinvested directly into Top Dog Boxing, supporting the gym’s ongoing work with young people across San Antonio.

It ensures that the energy created on the day carries forward in a tangible way, strengthening access to the sport and the opportunities that sit around it.

The day brought together a number of moving parts, but each played a clear role in what it became.

The collaboration with GREYGXDS set the tone and broadened the reach beyond boxing, while the activity inside Top Dog Boxing delivered on the purpose – giving young people from across San Antonio the chance to step in, take part and spend real time around the sport. That link between partnership and practice was what carried things.

The product release, local businesses and raffle activity helped draw people in and build the environment, but everything ultimately led back to the gym floor – where the focus shifted to learning, participation and connection. It meant the event wasn’t just something to attend, but something to be part of.

For Bam, it was time in the gym with the next group coming through – seeing them up close, working with them and getting a feel for what’s there. In a city like San Antonio, you don’t have to look far to find the next one.