The 25-year-old boxer and his brother, former world champion Joshua Franco, didn’t realise at the time how much their mom and dad gave up in order to help them pursue their ambitions, and they often went without luxuries to fund their sport.

Jesse told Boxing News magazine: “Looking back now, I know that it was a huge sacrifice for them.

“But back then, I was just a little kid and didn’t really understand how life works.

“I was training and going to tournaments at the time but now I know they risked their own jobs to support us. My dad even got fired at one point, just because he was going to our tournaments and missing too much work.

“So, when he became jobless, my mom was the one who really had to pick up more days at work.

“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They sacrificed their own lives to provide for us, so I’m just thankful to have the parents I was born with.

“We were always a stable family, but as soon as me and my brother started boxing, that’s when my parents really started to go through some struggles.

Even my other brother never really got any Christmas or birthday presents because all of the money was just going to me and [Joshua].”

Jesse stays motivated now by thinking of the sacrifices his family made.

He added: “I still remember those days, so that motivates me to keep going.

“Me and my brother also missed out on a lot of our childhood, just because we were always in the gym or at a tournament.”