When boxers remain in the sport for a prolonged period of time, they outlast the generation of fighters they came up with and find themselves taking on challengers from a new era of fighters. That is the case for 34-year-old Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada (44-3, 28KOs) as he prepares to take on the superbly talented Texan Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (19-0, 12KOs) in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 29. Two-weight world champion Estrada will defend his WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight titles against Rodriguez.
A native of Sonora, Mexico, Estrada is a 16-year pro who has shared the ring with the past decade’s fly and super flyweight greats. Estrada has mixed it up with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (twice), Carlos Cuadras (twice), Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (three times), and Brian Viloria, to name a few. The three defeats on Estrada’s record were all avenged in rematches, meaning the man known as “El Gallo” – the rooster – has beaten every man he has faced.
Going in against Rodriguez next Saturday presents Estrada with a significant challenge. He has far more experience than his young foe, but will that be enough when the bell rings at the Footprint Center?
Estrada May Need To Shake Off Some Ring Rust
Heading into this title fight, aptly named “Crown Duel” by the promoter, it is important to note that Estrada has not fought since December 2022. That night, Estrada won the WBC 115-pound title by getting the better of old foe Roman Gonzalez in their trilogy bout. It was a closely contested majority decision win for Estrada.
Estrada has said he needed the 18-month break to allow his body to heal fully from old injuries he was carrying. That aspect of the long break is also important to note; could we see a fully refreshed Estrada on June 29? Can Estrada turn the clock back and display the skills that he has become known for over his illustrious career? Time will tell, but the history of boxing teaches us that, at least in the early running, Estrada will likely feel like it’s his first day at a new job.
Prior to the Gonzalez decider in 2022, Estrada had been boxing on average twice a year since 2018. During this period, he faced high-level opposition across his nine contests and only lost once – a majority decision to Rungvisai in February 2018. Indeed, many of Estrada’s bouts during this time went to the scorecards. Split and majority decision wins are joined by unanimous decision wins with close scores. This indicates that even when up against it, Estrada can manage his way through a fight and, more often than not, knows how to be effective enough to ensure he gets the nod on the cards.
Can the Rooster Showcase His Skills Against Rodriguez?
Estrada has shown during his career that he possesses elite-level skills. That is why this fight is so highly anticipated. There is no better sport on the planet than boxing, when two of the very best are in direct opposition. Although he may be past his prime, Estrada, as a sure-fire future first-ballot hall-of-famer, has a chance against Rodriguez if he can drag one more big performance out of himself in his 48th outing.
Over his career, Estrada has shown himself to be a technically excellent boxer who doesn’t mind getting involved in a brawl when required. This willingness to go to war makes him a fan favorite. Boxing out of the orthodox stance, one of the first things that is noticeable about Estrada is the way he uses his lead left hand. His strong jab is used as a setup punch for more offensive shots. Often, Estrada throws left uppercuts off his jab. These punches are delivered from angles so steep they still have to be defined with a name. Obviously, that makes defending these shots difficult for opponents. Estrada has been known to double up on these uppercuts when the moment is right.
Estrada has previously mentioned that he has taken inspiration from his compatriot, Juan Manuel Marquez. He was one of the best counter-punchers in the sport during his career, and Estrada is also excellent at executing counters. It can be beautiful to watch.
Some More Prime Estrada Skills
In the footwork department, Estrada excels. When on the front foot, he uses angled steps to cut the ring off and walk his opponents down. We have seen Estrada use this technique many times over the years – piling up points on the scorecards by pinning opponents on the ropes for prolonged periods
In a defensive sense, Estrada pivots beautifully and is capable of simultaneously uncorking a left hook to the body to put an end to any opposition offense. Having these skills is one thing, but knowing when to use them is another. Estrada’s boxing IQ is extremely high as he hasn’t often been found wanting in the decision-making department during his career. He seems to know what punches to throw at the correct moments. Over the years, he has thrilled fans with his punch selection, volume, and timing. Will we see more of this on June 29?
One More Thing….
While this is not something Estrada can control, it may well contribute to helping him during tough moments against Rodriguez. Although the bout is taking place on American soil, there will be plenty of Mexican fans in Phoenix that weekend. Perhaps more than usual, as Mexico’s soccer team is playing Ecuador at State Farm Stadium in a Copa America fixture on June 30. It’s fair to assume that plenty of soccer fans will make their way to the Footprint Center the night before to show their support for Estrada. It should make for an electric atmosphere. This, combined with Estrada being well-rested and able to go to the well one more time, gives the man from Sonora a chance of pulling off an upset win on June 29.
If Estrada can shake the ring rust quickly, display the skills mentioned above, and manage the bout on his terms, we may see the rooster having plenty to crow about in Phoenix next Saturday.
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