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Juan Francisco Estrada, with a record of 44-3 and 28 knockouts, will be stepping into the ring to defend his title for the first time since his thrilling victory over Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in December 2022. The 33-year-old Mexican fighter secured a majority decision win over Gonzalez in their third epic encounter, bringing their trilogy to a 2-1 conclusion in his favor.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez, boasting a perfect record of 19-0 with 12 knockouts, is coming off an impressive performance in December where he unified at Flyweight by stopping Sunny Edwards in the ninth round. The 24-year-old has already claimed victories over Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, and Israel Gonzalez, solidifying his position as one of the top fighters in the division.
The showdown between Estrada and Rodriguez promises to be a highlight of the year for boxing fans, with both fighters considered pound-for-pound stars. The event will be a huge weekend for Mexican sports fans in Phoenix, coinciding with the national soccer team's match against Ecuador in the Copa America at State Farm Stadium.
“I’m very happy to announce my return against Bam Rodriguez,” said Estrada.
“After my last victory against Chocolatito, we took a good break and I was able to spend quality time with my family and heal an injury I was dealing with. I will be more than ready since I know Rodriguez is a dangerous fighter, but in June, it will be clear that there’s plenty of ‘Gallo’ excitement to come.”
Rodriguez expressed his excitement for the fight, stating,
“Fighting for my fourth world title against a legend like ‘Gallo’ is huge. This is a fight I’ve been wanting for a while, and I’m ready to prove myself once again. On June 29, you guys will see another special performance. AND THE NEW!”
Promoter Eddie Hearn praised the matchup, saying, “When the best fight the best, excitement is guaranteed - and there’s no doubt that these are two of the best fighters on the planet. Both fighters are to be commended for taking on the challenge – will ‘Gallo’ prove too much too soon for Jesse, or can ‘Bam’ add Juan’s name to his already incredible CV?”