SPORTS SHORTS 24: ZANFER PROMOTIONS CONFIRMS JUAN ESTRADA VS. ROMAN GONZALEZ II UNIFICATION FIGHT IS ON
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 14 Jan 2021
Zanfer Boxing, the Mexico-based promotions, confirmed on Tuesday: “Contrary to rumors, the Juan Estrada vs. Roman Gonzalez [rematch] is still on." The much-awaited rematch will take place after more than eight years. Gonzalez owns the WBA superflyweight belt and Estrada holds the WBC title in the same weight class. Their marvelous 12-round battle happened in November 17, 2012, which the then-unbeaten WBA light flyweight champion Gonzalez won by unanimous decision, 118–110, 116–112, 116–112.
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On April 6, 2013, Estrada, age 30 years of Puerto Peñasco, Mexico fought Brian Viloria, the Fil-Am fighter from Waipahu, Hawaii for the WBA (Super) and WBO flyweight titles. Estrada won by split decision, 117-111, 116-111, 113-115, and became the new unified champion. Gonzalez, age 33 years of Managua, Nicaragua went on to defeat Akira Yaegashi of Kitakami, Iwate, Japan by ninth-round TKO to win the WBC, The Ring and lineal flyweight titles, becoming a boxing triple champion.
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Gonzalez defeated Carlos Cuadras of Guamúchil, Mexico by unanimous decision, 117–111, 116–112, 115–113, to win the WBC super flyweight title and become Nicaragua’s first-ever four-division titlist. His superflyweight title, unbeaten record and No. 1 pound-for-pound rankings ended when he lost to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai back-to-back by majority decision, 114-112, 114-112, 113-113 in March 18, 2017, including a shocking 4th round knockout loss in their September 9, 2017 rematch.
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Sor Rungvisai of Uthumphon Phisai, Sisaket, Thailand, went on to defeat Estrada in their February 24, 2018 encounter by majority decision, 114-114, 115-113, 117-111. Then Estrada (41-3, 28 KOs) exacted revenge in their April 26, 2019 rematch by unanimous decision 115-113, 115-113, 116-112 becoming a two-division titlist. Then he scored an 11th round technical knockout of Carlos Cuadras in their Fight-of-the-Year candidate rematch last October 3, 2020 in Mexico City.
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In the same event, Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KOs) made a successful 1st defense of his WBA (Super) superflyweight title reign by unanimous decision over Israel Gonzalez of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with the scores 118-110, 116-112, 117-111. The Nicaraguan legend won the title eight months earlier, stoppping the previously unbeaten Kal Yafai of Birmingham, West Midlands, England by a 9th round stoppage last February 29, 2020.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn announced the proposed long-awaited rematch during the December 19, 2020 DAZN event featuring Saul "Canelo" Alvarez’s victory over Callum Smith. Nicaragua’s La Prensa quoted Alfredo Caballero, Estrada’s trainer saying that the terms were still under negotiations and that the purse has still to be worked out by both camps. Estrada’s promoter confirmed that both boxers are ready to engage in the potential 2021 Fight of the Year candidate.
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“Team Estrada is 100% in, [and] will start training next week in Los Mochis, Mexico,” Zanfer announced. “Team Chocolatito is also 100% in, [confirmed] through Akemi Irie [U.S.-based coordinator for] Teiken Promotions. He will start training next Monday in California.” Gonzalez also confirmed this in recent interviews with Nicaraguan TV networks.
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Dana White wants the 32-year-old Conor McGregor to skip a fight with Pacquiao and instead focus on capitalizing on his prime years fighting in MMA.“The way that this kid (McGregor) is right now mentally, physically, emotionally. I mean this kid is on and ready to fight. I would love to see him focus on what he can do here at the UFC,” White was quoted by ESPN. “Whether it is to take another shot at that (UFC lightweight) title against Khabib (Nurmagomedov), or fight for the title against somebody else if Khabib retires; and defend that title."
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“You know, a boxing match with any of these guys, (like Pacquiao), that kind of stuff is always going to be there. You are the absolute best in the world right now in MMA. And the timing is right now; not getting any younger. I’d love to see him go for it here over the next year. If he wants to fight you know one of these boxing guys, do that next year. That fight’s always going to be there.” McGregor (22-4 MMA; 20 stoppages; 0-1 boxing) and Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) are both managed by Audie Attar of Paradigm Sports.
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James Harden is traded to the Brooklyn Nets and will join former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to form a deadly scoring trio in the NBA. Durant is averaging 29.9 points in his first season after recovering from surgery on his Achilles tendon, and Irving was scoring 27.1 per game before leaving the Nets last week for personal reasons. Harden, who was out of shape after joining the Rockets when training camp was over, averaged 24.8 this season after three straight seasons scoring above 30, winning the MVP award in 2018.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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