SERGIO MARTINEZ
Photograph By Peter Hapak for ESPN The Magazine
"I'm not successful because I'm the strongest or the fastest; it's my work ethic that has made me the champ. Ever since I put the gloves on, I've had the utmost respect for the sport and my body. For me, training is an all-day affair. I wake up at 4:30 a.m. and go to a park near my home in California, where I do my conditioning. I come home and eat breakfast, then I get a massage or go to the chiropractor for any aches and pains. After lunch, I prepare for my second workout -- the boxing and bag work, which can last for two and a half hours. Finally, I shower, eat dinner and rest so I can do it all again the next day. There's nothing physical that I do differently from any fighter. What separates me is my intensity. I put my heart and soul into every workout."