Sparks will fly when Estrada and Rodriguez clash tonight in Phoenix

By Shaun Brown

THERE are fights worth setting a reminder to watch, and then there are fights worth counting down the days.

When Juan Francisco Estrada vs Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez was officially announced on March 28, there were 93 days to go. Tonight, the waiting is over.

The excitement for this super-flyweight clash – which sees Estrada’s WBC title at stake – comes from a belief that the fighting styles of both men will light a spark and explode into a ‘fight of the year’ contender.

Both men can do a bit of everything, but in the case of Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs), he can look spectacular as a result. The 24-year-old has taken just two years to create a legacy that contains victories over Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Sunny Edwards. The first two may have been fighting at the wrong end of their careers, but Rodriguez’s showing against Edwards proved that in a 50-50 fight, the difference was, in fact, widely in his favour.

Rodriguez could potentially be a nightmare for his Mexican opponent on June 29. Punches from angles, turning his opponent, and then throwing in blistering combinations could be too much for ‘Gallo’ to handle at 34 years old and in his 48th fight. Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) will also need to cope with a noisy pro-Rodriguez crowd at the Footprint Centre in Phoenix – the site of Bam’s breakout victory against Cuadras – and handle 18 months away from the ring.

Estrada doesn’t see it as inactivity, however, as he discussed in Matchroom’s ‘Make The Days Count’ documentary. Instead, he sees it as activity, having spent time in the gym and at home with his three children. But to go from a life of gym and family to facing someone who is something of a legend killer is a bold move as the champion.

Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, the last man to share a ring with Estrada, has sparred Rodriguez three times during the challenger’s camp for June 29. Estrada-Chocolatito III featured the former doing some lovely back-foot boxing and it wasn’t until the second half of the bout that a 35-year-old Gonzalez backed his man up with volume punching to get himself into the fight.

It’s hard to imagine Rodriguez doing anything but start positively and take the fight to a man 10 years his senior. The younger of the two needs to find out what Estrada has in the tank early by putting him under intense pressure. What Estrada answers that with will be an indication of how this fight will play out.

For the first six rounds, it should be competitive, with Estrada doing everything he can to stay in the fight which will make for some thrilling exchanges. All of this effort may be to his detriment, however, and with 18 months out and a 16-year career behind him, it may prove too tough an assignment for Estrada.

Sunny leads the way on Estrada vs. Rodriguez undercard

Sunny Edwards, who lost valiantly to Rodriguez in their flyweight unification six months ago, faces former IBF light-flyweight champion Adrian Curiel in the main support bout. Edwards (20-1, 4 KOs) has an easier-looking gig this time around, but one not without danger.

Curiel (24-5-1, 8 KOs) landed his world title in spectacular fashion against Sivenathi Nontshinga in November with a ‘knockout of the year’ contender in less than six minutes. But the Mexican lost the rematch in his homeland despite throwing the kitchen sink at his South African opponent.

Edwards showed he was much more than a boxer-mover against Rodriguez, but that was largely due to the tactics deployed against him. This time around, the 28-year-old can control proceedings early, and it would be a major surprise if he was dragged into a tear-up against his 25-year-old opponent.

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

The question marks will be what that punishing defeat to Rodriguez took from Edwards. Curiel won’t stop until he’s either on the floor or the final bell goes and this does look like being a distance fight because of Edwards’ elusiveness and Curiel’s engine.

We can only assume that Edwards will still have his bag of tricks, which can largely frustrate Curiel. Things may get interesting down the stretch, but a unanimous decision win for the travelling Brit looks likely.

The seven-fight card in Phoenix also features Somali-born Brit Ramla Ali (9-1, 2 KOs) going for world honours against WBC super-bantamweight champion Yamileth Mercado (23-3, 5 KOs). Ali avenged her shock knockout defeat to Julissa Alejandra Guzman 12 months ago by winning on points five months later, which will stand her in good stead. However, Mercado is at another level, and it’s doubtful Ali can reach such heights to win her first world title.

Before working the corner for Bam Rodriguez in the main event, Robert Garcia will be hoping to guide his bantamweight prospect Gabriel Muratalla (11-0, 6 KOs) to victory against southpaw Carlos Fontes (23-3-1, 19 KOs) while another of his prospects Leonardo Rubalcava (7-0, 3 KOs) takes a break from working for his father’s construction company to begin life as a Matchroom boxer against William Flenloy (3-3-1, 1 KO).

Elsewhere, super-bantamweights Arturo Popoca (13-0-1, 8 KOs) and Danny Barrios Flores (15-0, 5 KOs) put their unbeaten records on the line over 10 rounds while local fighter Fabian Rojo (8-0, 6 KOs) will have the crowd on his side in a welterweight contest against Daniel Gonzalez (5-1, 2 KOs).

Talking point

Beating Estrada would be the third taming of the lower-weight Four Kings for Rodriguez. This would leave only the legendary Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez to complete the set. Would the missing piece matter or does the young prince instead travel to Asia and take on Japan’s bantamweight rulers?

The Verdict

This is another must-see fight in the careers of both men, but one in which Rodriguez’s star will shine brightest with another sparkling performance.