RING 115-pound champion Juan Francisco Estrada addresses the media after a June 27 press convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Photograph credit score: Amanda Westcott, Matchroom Boxing
Juan Francisco Estrada is able to undergo the current to revisit the previous.
The reigning Ring/WBC junior bantamweight champion goals to as soon as once more share the ring with Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez. The pair of future Corridor of Famers have provided three memorable clashes, with Estrada forward 2-1 of their collection.
A fourth combat was not dominated out after their terrific Dec. 2022 conflict, gained by Estrada (44-3, 28 knockouts) by way of majority choice. The 34-year-old from Hermosillo, Mexico first has to get previous one of many sport’s easiest younger skills in 24-year-old Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs).
For sure, he’s up for the problem.
“Folks typically disrespect fighters like me after they say, ‘Gallo Estrada is simply too previous now’,” acknowledged Estrada. “However I’m going to point out on Saturday that it isn’t true and my profession will hold progressing for whereas. “Plenty of individuals say we’re too previous now but when Chocolatito turns into a champion at bantamweight, a fourth combat can be nice.”
Estrada-Rodriguez headlines a four-fight DAZN telecast Saturday night from Footprint Middle, dwelling of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Estrada makes an attempt his seventh protection of The Ring junior bantamweight championship.
The combat is the primary for Estrada since his trilogy conflict with Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KOs). Accidents and an lack of ability to safe a unification bout led to his 18-month layoff.
Curiously, focused divisional titlists Kazuto Ioka (31-2-1, 16 KOs) and Fernando ‘Puma’ Martinez (16-0, 9 KOs) will as an alternative face one another. Their July 7 WBA/IBF unification bout pits The Ring’s No. 2 and No. 3 junior bantamweights in a terrific matchup in Tokyo.
Estrada nonetheless seeks legacy fights within the post-prime portion of a profession destined for the Corridor of Fame. The 2-division champ enters his fourteenth profession combat with a serious belt or The Ring championship at stake.
It’s a tall activity versus the practically excellent Rodriguez. Nonetheless, Estrada is unbeaten in additional than six years and has a confirmed monitor file on the elite degree.
In the meantime. Gonzalez embarks on his personal comeback. The previous four-division champion faces Rober Berrera (27-5, 17 KOs) at bantamweight on July 12 at dwelling in Managua, Nicaragua. With a win, the expectation is to race ‘Chocolatito’ to a bantamweight title shot.
A fifth divisional title for the legendary Nicaraguan would the proper enticement for Estrada to maneuver up in weight.
“I believe to win any world title in any division at our ages can be good,” mentioned Estrada. “Not simply anybody may try this. If Chocolatito turns into a champion at bantamweight, we’ll go after him or any champion at that weight.”
After all, there stays the matter of upsetting the chances on Saturday.
“We will have plans and make plans however we’ve got to deal with the combat we’ve got in entrance of us first,” acknowledged Estrada. “If they are saying they’re going to knock me out, beat me after which they’re going up a division to face [WBA 118 titlist Takuma] Inoue that’s their enterprise however let’s see on Saturday.
“If Jesse Rodríguez beats me it’s going to as a result of he’s a greater boxer, not due to the rest like my age. They’ve been saying quite a bit that I’m previous now, that I’m on my manner out and on Saturday, I’m going to point out that this isn’t the case.”
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