By Ian S Palmer
Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico will be defending his WBC Franchise Super Flyweight Title in his homeland this Saturday, September 3rd when he takes on fellow countryman Argi Cortes. The 12-round bout can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Gonzalez last stepped into the ring in March of last year when he edged Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez by a controversial split decision to add the WBA belt to his WBC version. The win also avenged his unanimous decision loss to Gonzalez nine years earlier. Cortes last fought in May when he beat Rogelio Garcia by an eight-round unanimous decision.
The 32 year-old Estrada enters the ring with a record of 42-3 with 28 Kos. He’s a former WBO and WBA Flyweight Champion who won his current WBC Title in April, 2019 when he edged Srisaket Sor Rungvisai by a close unanimous decision in a rematch. Estrada lost a majority decision to Rungvisai just over a year earlier. He stands 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 66-inch and has boxed 298 rounds since turning pro back in 2008 following a good amateur career.
Estrada has never been stopped but had to get off the canvas in the third round against Carlos Cuadras in a slugfest in October, 2020 when it appeared he was about to be stopped. His other two losses came by way of unanimous decision to Gonzalez in 2012 in his first attempt at the WBA title and to Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. by an eight-round unanimous decision in 2011.
Estrada has better-than-average power with a current knockout ratio of 62.2 per cent and has won 16 of his last 17 fights. His biggest wins have been against Gonzalez, Rungvisai, Cuadras (twice), Hernan Marquez, Giovani Segura, Milan Melindo, Brian Viloria, Rommel Asenjo and Richie Mepranum. He reportedly went 100-15 in the amateur ranks and was the WBO World Flyweight Champ from April 2013 to October 2016 and made five defences. He was the WBA Super World Flyweight Champ at the same time and also defended that belt five times.
Cortes is basically a relatively unknown 27-year-old who enters the ring with a mark of 23-2-2 with 10 Ko’s. He’s boxed 131 rounds since making his pro debut in 2014 and has never been stopped. Unfortunately, Cortes has an unlisted height and reach so we can’t compare him size-wise to Estrada. However, he lacks serious power as his current knockout ratio stands at a below-average 37.1 per cent.
The two losses on his record came at the hands of Alan Blanco by way of third-round disqualification in his third pro fight in 2014 and a four-round majority decision to Joaquin Cruz in his next fight a year later. One of his two draws was also against Blanco as it was a five-round technical decision in 2017 and he also drew with Joel Cordova over eight rounds in 2018. Cortes has never fought as a pro outside of Mexico or taken on a legitimate contender so will be taking a huge step up in class this weekend.
Prediction…
Estrada recently gave up his WBA Title but is still recognized by Ring Magazine as the 115 lb champion. This weekend’s bout is simply to keep busy as a tune-up for a third fight and rubber match with Gonzalez in the near future. He’s a good long-range fighter and accurate counterpuncher with a fine jab and shouldn’t have too much trouble handling Cotes on Saturday night, but definitely can’t underestimate Cortes.
