Those inside the Footprint Center in Phoenix may witness a passing of the torch moment or a veteran remaining on top of the world when Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez face off on June 29. The fight for Estrada’s WBC and Ring super flyweight titles will air on DAZN.
Estrada (44-3) has won gold at light flyweight, flyweight, and super flyweight. He’s on an eight-fight win streak since 2018 and is coming off a points win over fellow boxing great Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in December 2022, which saw him emerge 2-1 in their trilogy.
The 34-year-old Estrada returns from a 19-month layoff to take on an opponent who is a decade his junior.
“I consider myself to be a very complete boxer. I can go out, I can pressure, I can brawl. I don’t think Bam is going to have it easy,” Estrada said via Boxing Scene. ‘I think Bam Rodriguez has to be willing to die because I’m willing to give it all up in the ring. And this is one fight I’m not going to let go.”
WATCH: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse Rodriguez, live on DAZN
Rodriguez (19-0) is already a two-division champion since turning pro in 2017. “Bam” won the WBC super flyweight title in 2022, WBO flyweight gold in April 2023, and decimated Sunny Edwards in December to win the IBF title. He returns to the 115-pound division looking to regain the WBC belt.
On the undercard, a former champion looks to return to form while a women’s title fight looks to steal the show.
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse Rodriguez undercard
Here’s a breakdown of the action on the much-anticipated Estrada vs. Rodriguez card.
Sunny Edwards vs. Adrian Curiel
- Division/Weight: Flyweight
- Edwards record: 20-1
- Curiel record: 24-5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-feature will see Sunny Edwards vs. Adrian Curiel.
Edwards (20-1) won the IBF flyweight title in 2021 and successfully defended it four times. Against Rodriguez, Edwards lost by ninth-round stoppage. The 2015 English National Championships gold medalist looks to rebound and return to world title contention.
BUY NOW: Cheapest ticket prices for Estrada vs. Rodriguez
Curiel (24-5-1) changes weight after a run as IBF light flyweight champion. After knocking out Sivenathi Nontshinga in 2023 for the title, the 25-year-old Mexican began 2024 with a knockout loss in the rematch. The ex-champ seeks more glory in a new weight class and Edwards represents an audacious choice of opponent for his debut at 112 pounds.
Yamileth Mercado vs. Ramla Ali
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Mercado record: 23-3
- Ali record: 9-1
- Belts at stake: WBC super bantamweight title
Yamileth Mercado defends the WBC super bantamweight title against Ramla Ali.
Mercado (23-3) beat Fatuma Zarika in 2019 for the WBC super bantamweight title, avenging a loss from 2018. She failed to capture featherweight gold against Amanda Serrano and has won five straight since returning to super bantamweight. “Yeimi” has scored five knockout wins.
Ali (9-1) will be fighting for gold for the first time. The 34-year-old made history in August 2022 when she faced Crystal Garcia Nova in Saudi Arabia, the first female boxing match in that country. She went 2-1 in 2023 after going 1-1 against Julissa Alejandra Guzman.
Arturo Popoca vs. Danny Barrios
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Popoca record: 13-0-1
- Barrios record: 15-0
- Belts at stake: N/A
Arturo Popoca faces Danny Barrios in super bantamweight action.
Popoca (13-0-1) has eight wins via knockout. He’s looking for his second win of 2024 and seeks to become the next big thing to come out of Mexico.
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Barrios (15-0) has five wins via knockout. Residing in Phoenix, the 26-year-old has primarily competed in Arizona.
Gabriel Muratalla vs. Carlos Fontes
- Division/Weight: Bantamweight
- Muratalla record: 11-0
- Fontes record: 23-3-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Gabriel Muratalla vs. Carlos Fontes.
Muratalla (11-0) has competed in boxing as a preschool teacher. He has won six fights via knockout and returns to action a month after beating Aramis Solis in Mexico.
Fontes (23-3-1) has won 19 fights via knockout and is 3-1-1 in his last five fights. The last three contests for “Divino” have ended via TKO.
MORE: Exclusive: Pound-for-pound star Bam Rodriguez braced for Estrada challenge
Fabian Rojo vs. Daniel Gonzalez
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Rojo record: 8-0
- Gonzalez record: 5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Fabian Rojo faces Daniel Gonzalez.
Rojo (8-0) has won all but two fights via knockout. The 22-year-old looks to continue his progress as a welterweight after winning four fights in 2023.
Gonzalez (5-1), with two wins via knockout, is on a two-fight win streak. The New Mexico native looks to halt Rojo’s momentum.
Leonardo Rubalcava vs. William Flenoy
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Rubalcava record: 7-0
- Flenoy record: 3-3-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Leonardo Rubalcava faces William Flenoy.
Rubalcava (7-0) recently signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing. He looks for his fourth win of 2024 and his eighth since turning pro in 2023.
Flenoy (3-3-1) is 1-1-1 in his last three fights.
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse Rodriguez tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, June 29
- Time: 9 p.m. ET (7 p.m. ET for prelims) | 2 a.m. BST (Sun) | 11 a.m. AEST (Sun)
- Main event start time (approx.): 12 a.m. ET | 5 a.m. BST (Sun) | 2 a.m. AEST (Sun)
- Location: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
- How to watch:
- DAZN monthly subscription: $ 19.99 on a 12-month contract or $ 24.99 month-to-month in U.S./ $ 24.99 per month in Canada/ £9.99 in the U.K. on a 12-month contract, or £19.99 month-to-month/ 13.99 AUD in Australia.
- DAZN annual subscription: $ 224.99 in the U.S., $ 199.99 in Canada, and £99.99 in the U.K.
