It will be the tricky skills and experience of Juan Francisco Estrada against the youthful energy and cerebral aggression of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez when the pair collide at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on June 29. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will be broadcast by DAZN.
Estrada (44-3, 28 KOs) is defending the WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight titles. The 34-year-old boxer-puncher from Sonora, Mexico, has been generally regarded as one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters in the world for the best part of a decade and his skills are of the highest quality.
“Everybody is saying that I’m about to retire,” lamented Estrada in a recent interview with Boxing Scene. “But I actually consider that, at my age, I have four more years left in my career. So the truth is, I think that a lot of people are wrong, and I’m going to prove it.
“I think Bam is coming with everything. He’s hungry, he wants to be world champion in this division, and I want to continue making history.”
WATCH: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez, live on DAZN
At 24 years old, Bam (19-0, 12 KOs) became the youngest world champion in boxing when he unified the flyweight title by stopping the previously unbeaten Sunny Edwards. Already a two-weight titleholder, the native of San Antonio, Texas, seeks to regain his old WBC 115-pound title at the expense of the most decorated and established fighter he has ever faced.
“I think I’m going to shock a lot of people,” said Bam during a recent interview with The Sporting News. “A lot of people haven’t seen the best version of Bam Rodriguez, and I feel a fight like this will show the world.
“I just want the best fights at this point in my career. I’m young, so I have a full tank. I just want to fight the best and give the fans the best fights possible.”
The Sporting News will provide live updates on the undercard and round-by-round coverage for the main event, which could be a Fight of the Year contender.
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez live updates, highlights, and commentary
12:14 p.m. ET: The doctor inspects the cut before the beginning of round nine and stops the fight almost immediately. We go to the scorecards which is a formality because Edwards has won every single round with room to spare.
12:04 a.m. ET: An accidental clash of heads opens a massive cut over Edward’s left eye. Curiel is wounded too, but nowhere near as bad. The fight continues. If the bout is stopped and goes to the cards, then Edwards hasn’t lost a single round.
11:57 p.m. ET: We’re four rounds in and Curiel is chasing shadows. Edwards is switch-hitting, jabbing, moving, and popping home the counters for fun. The former flyweight champ is having a field day.
11:43 p.m. ET: Edwards gets off to a great start, using the ring, popping Curiel at will, and avoiding the return fire. If past is prologue, then the Englishman will be happy to post another 11 rounds just like this one.
11:31 p.m. ET: Next up is a battle of ex-world champions. Former IBF flyweight titleholder Sunny Edwards takes on former IBF light flyweight champ Adrian Curiel. Both men are coming off stoppage losses and are looking to get back in the world title picture.
AND STILL THE WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD… YAMILETH MERCADO. THE CHAMPION RETAINS HER TITLE BY 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION. OFFICIAL SCORES ARE 98-93, 98-92 AND 97-93.
11:17 p.m. ET: The final round was the entire fight in microcosm. Mercado released more punches and Ali scored the eye-catching shots. It’s a close one and could go either way.
11:11 p.m. ET: The big punches keep landing from Ali although they only seem to spurn the champion into action. Mercado has thrown far more punches in this fight. We’re in the ninth round of what has been a close and competitive fight.
11:00 p.m. ET: The rounds are flying by in this women’s world title fight. Mercado is releasing more punches, but it’s Ali landing the bigger and more accurate shots.
10:57 p.m. ET: WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight champ “El Gallo” Estrada arrives at the arena and looks ready to go. Bam Rodriguez is in the process of having his hands wrapped.
10:46 p.m. ET: Next up is world title action between WBC super bantamweight champ Yamileth Mercado and Britain’s Ramla Ali. The fighters are in the ring and this bout is scheduled for 10 two-minute rounds.
THE WINNER IS ARTURO CARDENAS, WHO CLAIMS A 10-ROUND MAJORITY DECISION. THE NUMBERS ARE 97-93, 96-94 AND 95-95. CARDENAS IMPROVES TO 14-0-1 (8 KOs). A DISAPPOINTED BARRIOS FALLS TO 15-1 (5 KOs).
10:28 p.m. ET: Barrios got in his bike in the last two rounds and while his adopted home crowd was booing those tactics, that might have been the best tactical switch for him. Very close fight. Let’s see how the judges have this 10-round bout.
10:21 p.m. ET: The best round of the fight was the eighth. Fabulous back-and-forth action that culminated in fierce exchanges at the end of the round. Spectacular stuff from both men!
10:16 p.m. ET: More quality shots from Cardenas in the seventh. The Mexican fighter times Barrios exiting to his right and nailed him with a left hook. Barrios was momentarily stunned at the end of the session. The fight is close on points now.
10:12 p.m. ET: Cardenas has come back into the fight over the past two rounds. He just posted his best round in the sixth and landed several meaty right hands to the head. The power-punching got the attention of Barrios.
10:03 p.m. ET: We’re four rounds in and southpaw Barrios has the decided edge. He’s boxing very well from the outside and his left hand has brought swelling to the face of Cardenas. Plenty of action and the crowd is into this one.
9:42 p.m. ET: The main card is underway. First up we have a super bantamweight attraction between Arturo Cardenas and Danny Barrios. The fighters are in the ring.
9:08 p.m. ET: Gabriel Muratalla (12-0) turns in a dominant eight-round unanimous decision over a game Carlos Fontes. Official scores are 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75.
8:43 p.m. ET: Serious business from Muratalla, who is scoring with some blistering combinations in round three. Fontes taking the shots well and trying to fire back, but he needs to get his defense together in a hurry.
8:29 p.m. ET: The bantamweights are next up with unbeaten star Gabriel Muratalla going against the experienced Carlos Fontes. On paper, this is a step up for Muratalla.
8:12 p.m. ET: TWO MORE KNOCKDOWNS FROM THE LEFT HAND END THE FIGHT QUICKLY IN ROUND TWO. Rojos (9-0) with a sparkling and exciting performance. That’s the way to get the job done! The official time of the stoppage is 1:13.
8:09 p.m. ET: DOWN GOES GONZALEZ from a sharp left hand in the opening round. Rojo looks razor-sharp and goes for the finish straight away. More heavy blows land before the bell sounds to end a punishing three minutes.
8:03 p.m. ET: Next up, we’re in the welterweight division as unbeaten southpaw Fabian Rojo enters the ring against Daniel Gonzalez.
8:00 p.m. ET: Neither fighter was down or seriously hurt but spirited action throughout. The official scorecards favor unbeaten prospect Rubalcava, who moves to 8-0.
7:00 p.m. ET: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of the WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight title fight between champion Juan Francisco Estrada and challenger Bam Rodriguez. We’re in the countdown!!!
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez start time
- 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.): midnight ET | 5 a.m. BST (Sun) | 2 p.m. AEST (Sun)
- Location: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez starts at 9 p.m. ET, with undercard action airing at 7 p.m. ET. The main event should begin close to midnight ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez
- 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 | £99.99 in the U.K.
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez is available on DAZN worldwide.
WATCH: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez, live on DAZN
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez fight card
- Juan Francisco Estrada (c) vs. Bam Rodriguez for the WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight titles
- Sunny Edwards vs. Adrian Curiel; Flyweights
- Arturo Cardenas def. Danny Barrios via UD 10 (97-93, 96-94, 95-95); Super Bantamweights
- Yamileth Mercado (c) def. Ramla Ali via UD 10 (98-93, 98-92, 97-93) for the WBC super bantamweight title
- Gabriel Muratalla def. Carlos Fontes (79-73, 78-74, 77-75); Bantamweights
- Fabian Rojo def. Daniel Gonzalez via TKO 2 (1:13); Welterweights
- Leonardo Rubalcava def. William Flenoy via UD 6 (60,54, 59-55, 59-55); Super Lightweights
