León Rodríguez: 'Boxing saved my life'

León Rodríguez 's life became a long road of self-improvement and discipline to overcome the demons that consumed him.

His passion for boxing was awakened late—as a child, he didn't dream of what he's experiencing today—but he remains grounded, focused on becoming the best boxer in the country, a world champion, leaving a legacy for his son Mathías, and being a source of inspiration in a sport where sometimes the hardest blows are received outside the ring.

George Camilo Rodríguez grew up and lived in a southern neighborhood of Bogotá , where not many of his childhood friends took the right path. He never intended to become a boxer. His dreams were different, not throwing punches, with which he has won 11 professional fights.

“I grew up in a dysfunctional family. My dad had his own separate family, but my mom always played the role of both dad and mom… I wanted to be a tractor-trailer driver, but life happened, and I discovered sports, and I'm on that path,” he told EL TIEMPO.

At 13, he left his childhood behind and moved to Villavicencio , but he didn't adapt. He returned to the capital, and his brother Diego introduced him to the world of motorcycles. He forged his way in an environment where it was necessary to be strong. Despite rising through the ranks, he and his brother managed to start their own business. The excesses of youth and inexperience consumed them to the point where alcohol and drugs took over completely.

I remained a refugee in alcohol for two years. I don't remember a day during that time when I didn't drink. I was bored, I didn't want to continue.

"I hit rock bottom. I was overindulged in my environment, and we went bankrupt. I took refuge in alcohol for two years; I don't remember a day during that time when I didn't drink. I was bored; I didn't want to continue," he said.

Boxing came knocking on his door unexpectedly. He felt like he was wasting his life. “I reached a point in my life where I felt like I'd hit rock bottom, and I asked God to give me a dream, a purpose. I wanted to move forward, and one day I started training in boxing at a place near where I lived. That's where it all started, at 22 years old. In other cases, sport comes at an early age, but that wasn't the case for me,” he explained.

"I wanted to offer something different, to break those chains and the idea that families are only made up of drunks and people who haven't achieved anything significant. My goal was to break those stereotypes," he added.

Those first days of hard training ignited the spark that was fading inside. Boxing saved him, gave him new dreams and goals to strive for. It taught him discipline and love for the profession that obsesses him. “Boxing saved me, gave me a second chance, gave me dreams and a purpose in life,” he said.

He enrolled in the Bogotá Boxing League in 2021 and began the long process toward achieving his first major goal: becoming a professional boxer. But the hardest blow of his life came: his mother, Carmen Pardo , was diagnosed with cancer. “She got colon cancer. She lived in Villavicencio and started having pain. She went to the doctor and was told it was constipation, then that it was psychological. Here in Bogotá , they ran tests on her, and the disease was detected late,” he recalled.

Despite the blow, he continued his sporting career while accompanying his mother to therapy and managing the motorcycle business he started up again with his brother. As he talked about her, his eyes watering, he recounted one of his fondest memories: seeing him fight.

It was something that left a deep impression on us because, before her death, we had gone through some very difficult, very trying times. The loss of my mother was a further aggravating factor.

“My mom saw me as an amateur; she didn't get to enjoy this stage of my life. She loved it and was proud of it. I remember one day I went to Chía to fight in the Christmas Cup organized by the Bogotá Boxing League and I saw her reaction on a video, and she was the most excited person,” he recalled.

But tragedy struck him head-on; his mother died in 2022, before he turned professional. The moment overwhelmed him, and he turned back to the vices that had been destroying his life before he got into the sport. “It was something that had a profound impact on us because, before her death, we lived through very difficult, very tough times. The loss of my mother was aggravating because I turned to alcohol,” he said.

But the Lion resurfaced, woke up, and didn't remain drowned in sorrow. A phrase she said to him marked him forever, and she became the driving force behind achieving the goals he set for himself when he first stepped into a gym.

“It was very hard for me to get out of there, but I managed it thanks to sports, thanks to boxing. My love for my family also helped me to find out... It gives me peace of mind to know that I was an unconditional person for her. I was with her throughout her journey from the very beginning to the very end. She acknowledged that in life, and in one of the last conversations we had, she said to me: ‘Son, what would my life be like if you weren't here?’ Whenever sadness overwhelms me, I try to remember those words, and they motivate me to keep growing, to keep climbing,” he said, amidst his sadness.

His goal was never to win a medal at the Olympic Games; he always envisioned filling stadiums and arenas. His career took off like a rocket in 2023, when he managed to surpass the top tier. His professional debut came on June 24 of that year, and he did so with a victory after knocking out Jesús Rodríguez in the 145-pound division. “My first time in a ring was a shock of mixed emotions. I felt happiness, euphoria, nerves, and a bit of fear, too, but when you get hit, all that ends, and the good times come to bring out the best in you and win the fight,” he commented.

Today, at 27 years old, he has 15 fights under his belt, won 11 (9 by knockout) and lost 4. Despite his losses, he proudly says he's never been knocked out. He's ranked fourth in Colombia at lightweight (135 pounds) and 351st in the world. Looking back, Camilo doesn't regret everything he's had to overcome, as it fueled his continued climb. This year, on May 30th, two days after his birthday, he had the opportunity to fight in Las Vegas, United States. It was a long-awaited opportunity, but he achieved what only a few dreamers achieve in the major leagues of boxing.

I'm afraid of the day I'm gone because it's a very risky sport; because you know you're getting into the ring, but you don't know if you're going to get out.

“The U.S. is the Mecca of boxing; for me, it was like going to the big leagues. Three days after getting my visa, I was contacted by Óscar Negrete, a Golden Boy boxer, who offered me a fight that would be televised on ESPN , but the passport delivery was delayed, and I had to watch it on TV. Then the opportunity opened up again, and I went. When I arrived at the airport in the U.S., I had to pinch myself because it felt like a dream come true. After fulfilling that dream, I said that for me, nothing is impossible, and if you dream and have faith, anything can be done,” he said.

He didn't start with a victory, losing to American Daniel García by judges' decision. "It was an excellent fight throughout every round, from the first to the last, with both sides throwing countless punches. He was a great opponent," he said.

Although life has given him more than he expected 10 years ago, he doesn't hide that his greatest fear is leaving his family alone. His son Mathías was born six months ago, and he wants to leave him a legacy; he's working hard for his future. "When he was born, it was an extra motivation, it was a spark when I got into the next fight. Mathías , for me, became everything... I dread the day I'm gone because it's a very risky sport; because you know you're going to get into the ring, but you don't know if you're going to get out," he commented.

His challenge will be this August 29th, at the Boxxera event in Bogotá . He'll fight Didier Castillo and is preparing to win. "I take care of myself, I get up at 3 in the morning and I do physical training at the gym from 5. I do double time because afterward I go to work in boxing class. Some days I combine it with a climb to Guadalupe or Monserrate and then do my boxing workout," he explained.

He admires Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez, watches videos of Julio César Chávez , and wants to get in the ring with Teófimo López, David Kennedy, and Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz. He wants to fight in Europe , Dubai , and fight again in the U.S., but first, he wants to continue making his own history in Colombia . His goal has always been clear: he wants to become a world lightweight champion.

“I work every day to become a world champion. I want to bring that belt back to Colombia and follow in the footsteps of Pambelé and Happy Lora. Today, there isn't a boxer that people know on the street. I want to work toward that goal and be the boxer who rekindles the passion for boxing. I have enough time to achieve my dreams; I'll fight until I'm 38. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but if so much has happened in two years, I challenge myself to find out what will happen in three. Besides, I feel at my best, and I'm certain I'm going to be a world champion.”