Rodriguez vs. Estrada: A Closer Look at Saturday’s Dream Match-up in Phoenix

Published

3 months ago

June 25, 2024

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The meeting of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (19-0) and Juan Francisco Estrada (44-3) in the Footprint Center, Phoenix this Saturday night is a generational clash so satisfying as to feel improbable. When Estrada, the 115lb lineal champion, turned professional Jesse Rodriguez was eight years old. By the time Rodriguez turned professional, Estrada had already been matched for alphabet belts on seven different occasions, winning six. By the time Rodriguez picked up a strap of his own in early 2022, Estrada had been the legitimate lineal champion of the world for three years. This is the king Rodriguez seeks to topple this weekend, one of boxing’s royal bloodlines, and until recently, one of her greatest champions.

But King Estrada has been inactive, the poison of post-COVID 19 boxing, and generally inadvisable for a thirty-four-year-old super-flyweight. Estrada has been waiting for the perfect money fight, the right contest to bring him out of hibernation and into the arena, but that arrangement is the cousin of retirement. If a fighter is refusing to budge for less than a given amount, he’s really saying he might not fight again, an important psychological step. Estrada has spent all of 2023 and some of 2024 with his feet up and he hasn’t made weight since December 11, 2022. He hit 115lbs dead on the nose and the following day boxed his in his most recent contest, against fellow sub 118lb legend Roman Gonzalez.

Everything Jesse Rodriguez needs to know about Estrada is contained within these twelve rounds of boxing, the good and the bad, the reason to be cautious. Leaping straight to the twelfth round and the reason Rodriguez should be cautious: beaten and having lost every one of the last five rounds on my card, Estrada rallied to win the twelfth on pure heart. His three-time opponent, the man with whom he shared the best trilogy of the twenty-first century, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez was naturally more robust than Estrada. Being hit bothers him less than all but a tiny handful of fighters and that more than anything drew him close to victory over his old foe. Estrada resolved to contest the line he had been breaking before Gonzalez in that twelfth round and he did so while dealing some of the highest-class left-handed work that can be seen in boxing today. In the twelfth, as in the first, he jabbed, led with left hooks to the body, pierced with a lead left-uppercut and tied on a final punch, the riskiest punch, to all his combos where he had been stepping out earlier before. It won him the round and the fight; if he’d balked in that twelfth round the fight would have been a draw and the fourth between Gonzalez and Estrada would now have been boxed, to what result is anyone’s guess.

What Rodriguez sees in that twelfth round is the part of Estrada that has been unbreakable. It might be easier to change his mind with punches than it is to change Roman’s, but it is Estrada who is in possession of the truly unbreakable chin. Nobody has even been close to stopping him and when it seemed that Gonzalez had strategically broken him, he found it in him to win the fight’s most important round against the run of action in ninety seconds that may have done more to define his career than any other thirty-six minutes. Estrada must be completely broken to be broken at all.

More, if Rodriguez watches the first half of that fight, he will see style that does not please him. Estrada spent the first six rounds against Gonzalez controlling perhaps the finest ring-general of his generation bar Floyd Mayweather. Estrada’s left-hand is a delight, a paradigm of variety. He will lead with the left hand to the body, probably the second riskiest punch from the orthodox stance, and he will throw it all the way across himself to the far hip of his opponent if the front quarter is properly guarded. Behind this, all punches are possible, hooks and uppercuts abound, and the division’s best power jab is a punch that he must not be allowed to settle behind if he is to be beaten.

Fortunately for Rodriguez, it is a punch that can be disrupted, not least because Estrada wants to throw more hurtful punches in many moments. If he settles behind his left jab he will win, but he has many more routes to victory and he is no slave to that punch. Certainly though, Rodriguez has the tools to disrupt Estrada’s offence generally and his jab especially. I am ready to dismiss Estrada’s jab as a factor in this fight – that is how good Rodriguez is.

The Footprint Center is a venue that has been kind to Rodriguez. He was brilliant there in February of 2022 for his arrival in earnest at the top of the sport, out-pointing veteran Carlos Cuadras over twelve rounds to lift an alphabet strap at 115lbs. It was not a close fight; I gave Cuadras three rounds, one of them arguable, and two of the judges saw it the same way. What most impressed about Rodriguez was the very thing that Roman Gonzalez used to his advantage in his third war with Estrada, his indifference to the punishment the supposedly bigger man and puncher, Cuadras, inflicted. Indeed, Rodriguez made a strategic error in spending too much time in the pocket fighting it out with Cuadras, when his greater successes were either at range or moving in to close range and then moving straight back out. He was indifferent to Cuadras and his hitting for the most part, punching all the while.

Rodriguez worked this charm with excellent footwork, taking advantage of his natural excellence in balance to pivot right and open up new vistas for his punches. After losing the first round to Cuadras, Rodriguez won a close second and then in the third stamped his authority on the fight. Cuadras cannot say he wasn’t warned; after landing a good southpaw uppercut in the first thirty seconds of the round, he landed a second only moments later, and Cuadras was deposited neatly on his backside.

This will not work against Estrada – he’d read the runes on the first punch and change the distance or the angles. Estrada doesn’t have quite the talent for balance that Rodriguez does, but he understands where he is in the ring as well as anyone. That is why even Gonzalez couldn’t trap him along the ropes early in the third fight, Estrada was always ready to retaliate or move. That said, Estrada, the slower man, might find himself vulnerable to these pivots and changes of fortune, especially as he’s trying to develop his jab early in the fight. Estrada has an interesting strategic choice to make early in this contest: will he give ground or try to hustle up? Rodriguez has shown a certain vulnerability to infighting ostensibly larger men at the 115lb limit but Estrada has shown brilliance in drawing aggressive fighters into space and punishing them savagely. He could mix these strategies but history has shown that Estrada prefers to box with a real clarity of plan. It may not be wise to compromise that clarity at this late stage.

Assuming Estrada goes with his preferred method of dealing with quick pressure, giving ground and countering the man and the space, he may find himself being out-sped and out-hit; a slow start would be disastrous for him so if he finds Rodriguez is able to make his way in to range and land while Estrada is waiting to counter, he will need to stand his ground and we will have a war on our hands. Either way this feels like a fight that cannot fail to deliver.

I feel quite strongly that Estrada’s time has come. That he has the wrong amount of wear on him, over too many years and now with eighteen months of inactivity making matters more uncertain, he’ll get found out in the second half of the fight and find himself dropping a clear decision in the region of 116-112.

I will be very happy to be proven wrong though. Estrada is a modern wonder and I’ve loved every moment of his hard-charging ambitious career, and I do think that the 2020 version would have been too much for even this summitting Rodriguez.

For the winner, a top five pound-for-pound slot.

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Terri Harper Wins Third Division World Title

Published

16 mins ago

September 28, 2024

David A. Avila

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Encounters in previous battles were key.

Terri Harper proved to Rhiannon Dixon that winning a WBO welterweight world title and keeping it are extremely difficult as she lifted it by unanimous decision to become a three-division champion on Saturday.

Harper (15-2-2, 6 KOs) showed Dixon (10-1, 1 KO) the subtleties and nuances at boxing’s elite level before an enthusiastic crowd at Sheffield, England. The former super featherweight and super welterweight titlist adds the lightweight title to her coffers.

Dixon discovered that experience counts.

Immediately Harper unraveled a planned defensive tactic to lure the frenetic moving Dixon into her counter right cross. It stopped the charges immediately.

Dixon, whose herky-jerky southpaw movements caused problems to other foes, could not rattle Harper who had faced numerous world champions in the past such as Cecilia Braekhus, Alycia Baumgardner and Sandy Ryan.

Patience was the key.

After some adjustments were made by Dixon, the lightweight match turned into a session of feints and clinches. Harper was able to manipulate the exchanges inside as Dixon tried to seek a solution.

In the latter rounds Dixon attacked the body with some heavy blows that seemed to open up more paths for her heavy blows. Right hooks did damage to Harper who was forced to hold.

“I got caught by a shot,” admitted Harper.

Once again Harper dipped into her vast trunk of experience and began blasting accurate shots with her rights and lefts. Though Dixon was not stunned, they snapped back the defending champions head violently.

Knowing she was behind, Dixon opened up her attack and so did Harper. Both exchanged heavy blows with neither relenting or surrendering. Each had bloody noses and each had energy in reserve for the last two frantic rounds.

After 10 rounds, all three judges saw it in favor of Harper 97-93 twice and 96-94.

“For me, its my best performance so far,” said Harper.

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing predicts her win will lead to other pivotal matchups against the top lightweights in the world such as Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano or Caroline Dubois.

“She made history tonight,” Hearn said.

Other Bouts

Super bantamweight standout Peter McGrail (10-1, 6 KOs) stopped Brad Foster (15-4-2) with a left hand body shot to the liver for a win by knockout at 1:08 of the second round.

Middleweight prospect George Liddell (9-0, 6 KOs) beat George Davey (9-2-1) to the punch with an overhand right that dropped the fellow British fighter in the fifth round. Though he beat the count a subsequent right by Liddell forced the referee to halt the match at 2:20 of the fifth round.

Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai (8-0, 6 KOs) took a chance against Mexico’s Sergio Orozco (9-9) with a major fight against former world champion Sunny Edwards looming in November. He emerged unscathed, winning by knockout in the third round with a perfect four-punch combination knockdown. Though Orozco beat the count the referee stopped the fight at 1:49 of the third round.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

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Mikaela Mayer Wins WBO World Title in Firefight with Sandy Ryan

Published

16 hours ago

September 28, 2024

David A. Avila

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Mikaela Mayer emerged the winner over Sandy Ryan after a furious battle to lift the WBO welterweight world title by majority-decision on Friday.

It was close.

Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) used her experience to lure England’s heavy-hitting Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) into her type of warfare in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden’s theater in New York City.

Early on Mayer used a steady jab and combination punches against the strong forward advancements of Ryan. In the first round a quick right cross rocked the British fighter briefly for just a few seconds.

Over and over Mayer timed Ryan’s charges with heavy overhand rights and uppercuts. But Ryan kept advancing.

“I was catching her coming in all the time,” explained Mayer about her strategy.

Through most of the first half of the fight Mayer kept turning Ryan with angles that nullified the British fighter’s heavy left hooks.

But Ryan found her mojo in the sixth round with a body shot and left hook around Mayer’s guard. The American fighter rallied back with combinations of her own but kept getting hit with Ryan’s left hook.

Was Mayer getting tired?

In the seventh round Mayer opened up with rapid combination punching. And when Ryan attempted to rein the American fighter into her firing zone, Mayer caught her with quicker punches that connected.

“I knew I could beat her to the punch,” said Mayer. “She couldn’t handle my timing.”

If there were any questions about Mayer’s stamina she opened up the ninth round with a six-punch combination including a right uppercut.

Knowing that a world title was at stake, both fighters opened up with volleys in the 10^th and final round trying to dominate. Ryan continued looking to blast away with the left hook and Ryan looking to connect with overhand rights or uppercuts. Both blasted away until the final bell.

One judge scored it 95-95 but two others saw it 97-93 and 96-94 for Mayer who becomes the new WBO welterweight champion.

“She’s probably the strongest fighter I’ve fought,” said Mayer who was coming off a controversial loss to Natasha Jonas in Liverpool, England.

Before the fight, it was revealed that someone threw paint on her as she was leaving her hotel.

“I was shook up,” said Ryan about fans accosting her. “It was a great fight.”

The new champion Mayer said she would not mind a rematch but intends to unify all the welterweight world titles.

“I want to be undisputed,” Mayer said.

Other Bouts

Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) soundly defeated Mexico’s Damian Sosa (25-3) using superior boxing technique over 10 rounds in a super welterweight fight between sluggers.

Zayas proved he is more than just a slugger with a technical battle that nullified Sosa’s power and aggressiveness. The fight was never in doubt despite no knockdowns in their clash. Zayas won every round on all three cards.

Brooklyn’s Bruce Carrington (13-0) out-fought Sulaiman Segawa (17-5-1) in a close back-and-forth battle that ended in a majority decision victory for the fighter known as “Shu Shu.” The scores were 95-95 and 97-93 twice.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Notes on the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame, the Return of ‘Boots’ and More

Published

2 days ago

September 26, 2024

Luis A. Cortes III

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This weekend the city that was synonymous with boxing in the 1980’s, Atlantic City, will play host to its annual celebration of the sport that once helped to enhance the gambling experience for high rollers from around the world. Over the last seven years the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend has evolved into a staple on the city’s yearly entertainment calendar. Events begin Friday, Sept. 27, with their customary V.I.P cocktail reception on the balcony of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and run through Sunday, Sept. 29.

Along with the usual kick-off events, this year the ACBHOF is working closely with one of its partners, Hard Hitting Promotions, to put on a full night of professional boxing from the Super Star Theater at Resorts Hotel and Casino. This show will feature 24-year-old fringe contender super-lightweight Brandon Pizarro (19-1-1, 11 KO’s) in the main event. Pizarro, a Philadelphia native, has been on the radar of many boxing insiders and observers since turning professional seven years ago at the age of 17. While the momentum of his career has never truly gotten into full swing, Pizarro has seen his career take on several stages, except for the role of serious contender or world champion.

For Pizarro it seems that the time has come for him to put together all his natural talent with the seasoning of being a seven-year professional. At this point career setbacks, personal life issues, and dealing with life as a prizefighter should all be things that come second nature if Pizarro is ever going to morph into an elite level fighter or at least into the championship contender that many thought he could become. With a victory this weekend coupled with an active first quarter of 2025, Pizarro shouldn’t be far away from getting an opportunity to prove he is indeed the goods.

As for the actual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, that will take place the following night, Saturday the 28th, following the always popular Fight Fan Experience in the afternoon, also at the Hard Rock. This year’s class is headlined by James “Buster” Douglas, Gerry Cooney, Mark Breland, Paul Williams, and Sergio Martinez.

Williams and Martinez will forever be joined in A.C. boxing history for their historic 2009 fight that was a Fight of the Year candidate, as well as their rematch in 2010 that wound up being The Ring magazine Knockout of the Year after Martinez’s spectacular one-punch KO of Williams in the second round. Other boxing dignitaries will join those marquee names this weekend including names like Eric Bottjer (one of the best and most consistent matchmakers in boxing), promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and the posthumous inductions of Joey Giardello and referee Eddie Cotton.

Tickets for this weekends events as well as any information regarding how to attend any or all the events are available by visiting ACBHOF.

***

The Pennsylvania State Boxing Hall of Fame will be conducting their one-day ceremony of inductions on Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall in South Philadelphia. Housed inside Ring 1 Veteran Boxers Association (the oldest club of its kind in the country), the PA State HOF has done a terrific job of both honoring and helping to aid many of the veteran boxers from the area. Led by historian and author John DiSanto, each year the PA State HOF gives many of the local fighters from yesteryear a chance to receive their “flowers,” from the community that they once entertained. As always, the afternoon will consist of an open bar where fans get a chance to mingle with the honorees, heavy appetizers, and the induction ceremony. For more information call (609) 377-6413.

***

Last Friday, Matchroom boxing announced that it will return to Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 9, when Jaron “Boots” Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) defends his IBF welterweight title in what will be his second consecutive fight in front of his hometown fans. Ennis will take on his mandatory challenger Karen Chukhazhian (24-2 13 KOs) in a rematch of their January 2023 fight, a fight that Ennis one via a one-sided decision which ended Ennis’ knockout streak, something the young champion will look to correct.

Also on the card will be pound-for-pound star and the king of the super flyweights Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez making a defense of his titles and local area products Raymond Ford, the former WBA featherweight champion, and Khalil Coe, an undefeated light heavyweight.

It’s a no-brainer that Matchroom is making its return to Philly just four months after Ennis returned home in July for the first time as a champion and fought in front of over 14,000 hometown fans. Eddie Hearn mentioned after Ennis’ victory that he wanted to keep Ennis active while he awaits his opportunity to show the world how talented he truly is in matches against elite champions. Hearn kept his promise and after attempts to make a unification fight against Mario Barrios fell through, a defense at home is needed if “Boots” is going to be as sharp as he needs to be if he is to find himself across the ring from “Bud” in 2025.

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