Phoenix Showdown: Rodriguez and Estrada Vie for Junior Bantamweight Title and a Shot at “The Monster”
PHOENIX – The upcoming clash between Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Juan Francisco Estrada is not just about the World Boxing Council’s 115-pound title; it’s also a potential stepping stone to a highly anticipated showdown with the fearsome Naoya Inoue, known as “The Monster.”
Inoue’s recent dramatic knockout of Luis Nery has only added to the intrigue surrounding the Rodriguez-Estrada fight, scheduled for June 29 at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Both fighters expressed their desire to eventually face the pound-for-pound star, with the winner of this bout setting their sights on the Japanese phenom.
“I see myself fighting him one day,” said Rodriguez, the undefeated 24-year-old champion from San Antonio. Meanwhile, Estrada, the current WBC 115-pound titleholder, has already called out Inoue, eyeing a potential clash with the WBA champion Kazuto Ioka as the next step toward a matchup with “The Monster.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, who is overseeing the Rodriguez-Estrada showdown, believes the winner of this fight would be a compelling opponent for Inoue, either at 118 or 122 pounds. “I like Bam fighting Inoue at 118 or 122 pounds,” Hearn said, dismissing the idea of a potential Inoue-Gervonta Davis bout as a “fantasy.”
Unifying the Junior Bantamweight Division
Rodriguez, already a champion at 112 and 115 pounds, is focused on unifying the junior bantamweight division, but he acknowledges the lure of bigger challenges. “I figure on two, maybe three more fights at 115,” he said, hinting at a potential move up the scale.
Estrada, the seasoned 34-year-old Mexican fighter, has questioned the quality of Rodriguez’s opposition, suggesting that his previous victories over Sunny Edwards, Carlos Cuadras, and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai may have come against opponents “on their way out.” However, Rodriguez is confident in his abilities, stating, “I’m a different breed. I’m a different animal. I’m here to shock the world.”
With the promise of a potential showdown with Inoue looming, the Rodriguez-Estrada clash on June 29 takes on added significance in the boxing world. Fans and pundits alike eagerly await to see who will emerge victorious and take the next step toward challenging “The Monster.”
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