All roads lead to Japan for Estrada and Bam

By Oscar Pick

BLOCKBUSTER shows in Japan await the winner of this Saturday’s WBC and Ring Magazine super-flyweight clash between Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

Estrada returns to the ring in December 2022 following an epic trilogy decider against Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, putting his belts on the line in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Stepping up to the plate will be another pound-for-pound star, who shares the 34-year-old’s desire to reign supreme over the remaining champions at 115 lbs.

In recent years, boxing’s lower divisions have, for the most part, been dominated by Mexican and Japanese fighters. 

These fighters – or killers, as they are perhaps more aptly known – have, due to their undeniable talent, thrown the spotlight onto the sport’s traditionally less popular weight classes. 

Formidable puncher and future hall of famer Naoya Inoue, who is now the undisputed champion at super-bantamweight, has, through his electric performances, garnered more interest for fights such as the one taking place this weekend. 

The 31-year-old has made a mockery of the misconception that those campaigning in lighter divisions are “feather fisted”, pulverising champions who, in their own right, are among boxing’s most elite.

It is not just Inoue who should be praised for bringing new eyeballs to bouts that are fought below 135 lbs, though.

His marketability in Japan has, indeed, exponentially elevated the earning potential for fighters in and around his weight but, equally, there is something to be said for Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka, two sensational belt holders at super-flyweight who, along with Estrada and Rodriguez, aim to lay their claim on the division’s number one spot.

Kazuto Ioka (Naoki Fukuda)

Ioka emerged victorious when the pair locked horns back in 2020, stopping Tanaka with a ferocious onslaught in the eighth round.

Since then, the 35-year-old has further extended his unbeaten run, while his former opponent has rebuilt himself impressively, capturing the WBO strap in his last contest.

Ioka now looks to unify the titles, taking on IBF champion Fernando Daniel Martinez on July 7. Less than two weeks later, Tanaka will defend his belt in Japan as well.

With Japan rapidly establishing itself as a hotbed for talent in the lower divisions, there is little doubt that Estrada or Bam will soon land a career-defining dustup – potentially for the undisputed crown – staged in one of the world’s most decorated boxing territories. 

For Estrada, the motivation is clear. On Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel – in a recent behind-the-scenes episode of “Make the Days Count” – the Mexican proclaimed that he intends to remain in the sport for another four years.

Having already consolidated his legacy after three scintillating wars with Chocolatito, Estrada is set to not only rubber stamp his greatness but also prove his longevity by completing a near-20-year career. 

Despite being ten years his next opponent’s junior, Rodriguez finds himself in a similar hurry to secure accolades.

First, the American hopes to regain his old WBC title, returning to the Footprint Center where he won the trinket after defeating super-flyweight veteran Carlos Cuadras in 2022.

Just a few months later, in what many have branded a coming-of-age performance, Bam retained his belt with an eighth-round stoppage win over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, one of the division’s most fearsome operators, before he vacated and moved down to flyweight in pursuit of more silverware.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 16: Jesse Rodriguez (R) of the United States throws a right on Sunny Edwards of Great Britain during their IBF and WBO world flyweight title fight at Desert Diamond Arena on December 16, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It was then towards the end of last year when, in a unification with Briton Sunny Edwards, Rodriguez showed that he can offer more than just flashy footwork and sharp combinations. He stood in the pocket, held his feet, and put on a punishing, spiteful display, forcing a ninth-round corner stoppage.

With Bam now expressing a desire to face Inoue down the line, there is no incentive to pump the breaks on his progression. 

Rather, he has, in preparation for his next assignment, been forced to raise his level once more; sharing rounds with Chocolatito in sparring – a spectacle that most of boxing’s fraternity can only dream of being a fly on the wall for.

So, while Estrada and Bam – two consummate professionals – will, of course, remain focused on the task at hand, they may find it difficult to keep their attention away from the thriving boxing market in Japan, where the sport’s lower divisions continue to flourish.