Seniesa Estrada vs. Leonela Yudica | ESPN - July 28, 2023

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Seniesa Estrada vs Leonela Yudica set for July 28th on ESPN+

Andres Cortes fights Xavier Martinez in the co-feature

Wisely steering clear of Errol Spence Jr vs Terence Crawford the following day, Top Rank announced that Seniesa Estrada will defend her unified minimumweight titles against Leonela Yudica on Friday, July 28th on ESPN+.

Estrada (24-0, 9 KO) has long been one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound female fighters, and she added “unified champion” to her list of accolades in March by beating an ultra-game Tina Rupprecht for the WBC minimumweight belt.

While this isn’t the undisputed clash with Yokasta Valle that fans wanted, she still figures to face a solid test in Argentina’s Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO). The 34-year-old Argentine held the IBF flyweight title for nearly eight years before losing it to Arely Mucino by split decision last year. She went on to beat countrywoman Tamara Elisabet Demarco to earn a light flyweight title shot against Yesica Nery Plata, but instead drops further for a crack at Estrada.

“I am willing to fight any woman in or around my weight class, and I respect Yudica for accepting the challenge,” Estrada said. “My goal is to become the undisputed champion at minimumweight, but I can’t achieve that goal without defeating Yudica first. She is standing in my way, and I am coming to Las Vegas to make an emphatic statement.”

Yudica said, “I’m taking this amazing opportunity to show the world what Argentinian fighters are made of. I’m bringing the belts back home to San Juan with me.”

The co-feature pits super featherweight prospect Andres Cortes (19-0, 10 KO) against Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KO). Cortes powered through a cut to win a wide decision over Luis Melendez earlier this year and faces a man in Martinez who’s eager to get back on track after a 2022 rout at the hands of Robson Conceicao. Good scrap.

The undercard includes Abraham Nova (22-1, 15 KO) against Jonathan Romero (35-1, 19 KO), a 36-year-old Colombian who won a super bantamweight title in 2013, immediately lost it to Kiko Martinez, and has been bottom-feeding ever since. Roman Polanco, Karlos Balderas, Charlie Sheehy, and Subaru Murata will be in action as well.

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Fight Week!

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Sky Sports showing this card eh

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Sky Sports showing this card eh

Watch Seniesa Estrada vs Leonela Paola Yudica live on Sky Sports Action or Sky Sports Main Event from 2am on Saturday morning

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Press Release

Seniesa "Super Bad” Estrada (24-0, 9 KOs) will defend her unified WBC / WBA minimumweight world titles against Argentina's former title holder Leonela Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) this Friday at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. In the ten-round junior lightweight co-feature, Las Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) will take on Sacramento-born Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs). The full card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. The action includes the return of 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas (14-1, 12 KOs), who takes on Philadelphia's Nahir Albright (15-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight showdown...

Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (9-0, 5 KOs) steps up in class against Panamas contender Cesar Francis (12-1, 7 KOs) in a junior welterweight tilt scheduled for eight rounds...

Hard-hitting Japanese southpaw Subaru Murata (4-0, 4 KOs) looks to extend his knockout streak in a six-round junior featherweight clash.

Also in separate scheduled eight-rounders are lightweight Charlie Sheehy (6-0, 4 KOs), who is a former Team USA member, and Cleveland-born light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. (7-0, 5 KOs).

At Wednesday's press conference, this is what the undercard competitors say:

Andres Cortes

“I’m very excited. I’d beat both of these guys [Martinez and Nova] on the same night. I’m willing to knock out two guys in the same week. I’m not worried about him [Martinez]. He’s in here looking like a homeless man. This is easy work. I look good and I feel good. And I can’t wait to smack this guy.”

“I run Vegas. This is my city. I think Martinez’s biggest mistake was leaving {trainer} Ray Woods. He’s going to say that this is his greatest camp. But he’s hunched back and he looks scared. He’s afraid. And I can’t wait to put on a good ass-whooping’.”

Xavier Martinez

“I’m really excited to come back. In my last fight, things happened. But that’s life. It is what it is. But I’m bouncing back. I had a great camp for this one. I’m excited to go out there and do what I do. I’m ready to get back to where I need to be.”

“Working with Robert Garcia has been great. This camp went a lot better than the previous one. I had more time with him this time because he was more focused with Anthony Joshua around the time I had my first fight with him. This time, we were actually able to work more.”

Abraham Nova

“‘My motto is, ‘No fear, no doubt.' You have to have no fear and you have to keep moving forward. Robeisy Ramirez is a tough fighter. A lot of things didn’t go my way in that fight. But you’ve got to be mentally strong in this game. Confidence is the biggest thing that will help us fighters move forward.”

“You will always see fireworks in my fights. I come to get the knockout. Jonathan Romero is a tough opponent. He is a former world champion. I’m excited about what I’m going to do Friday night.”

Full card listing:

Seniesa Estrada vs. Leonela Yudica, 10 rounds, Estrada's WBC & WBA Minimumweight Titles;

Andres Cortes vs. Xavier Martinez, 10 rounds, Junior Lightweights;

Karlos Balderas vs. Nahir Albright, 8 rounds, Lightweights;

Rohan Polanco vs. Cesar Francis, 8 rounds, Junior Welterweights;

Abraham Nova vs. Jonathan Romero, 10 rounds, Junior Lightweights;

Subaru Murata vs. Juan Centeno, 6 rounds, Junior Featherweights;

Dante Benjamin Jr. vs. William Langston, 6 rounds, Light Heavyweights; and

Jaylan Phillips vs. Emond Driver, 4 rounds, Junior Welterweights (swing bout)

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ESPN+ Weigh-In Report

Seniesa Estrada (24-0, 9 KOs) was a fighting fit 104.4 pounds for her upcoming title defence.

Former IBF flyweight titleholder Leonela Paola Yudica(19-1-3, 1 KOs), who was a career lightest 103.7 pounds.

Andres Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) needed two tries to make the 130-pound limit. The Las Vegas native had to strip down to come in at the junior lightweight limit.

Sacramento’s Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs) was under the limit at 129.7 pounds

Undercard, ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. ET

Jaylan Phillips (1-2-3, 1 KO), Las Vegas via Albany, New York, 139 ½ pounds vs. Emond Driver (1-1, 1 KO), Indianapolis, 142 pounds—4 rounds, junior welterweight

Karlos Balderas (14-1, KOs), Santa Maria, California, 135.9* pounds vs. Nahir Albright (15-2, 7 KOs), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 134.1 pounds—8 rounds, lightweight

Balderas has one hour to shed 0.9 pounds

Rohan Polanco (9-0, 5 KOs), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 142.9 pounds vs. Cesar Francis (12-1, 7KOs), Brooklyn via San Miguelito, Panama, 141.8 pounds—8 rounds, junior lightweight

Abraham Nova, Albany, New York, 130.8 pounds vs. Jonathan Romero (35-1, 19KOs), Las Vegas via Cali, Colombia, 130.8 pounds—10 rounds, junior lightweight

Subaru Murata (4-0, 4 KOs), Tokyo, 121 ½ pounds vs. Juan Centeno (8-8-3, KOs), Managua, Nicaragua, 123.3 pounds—6 rounds, junior featherweight

Dante Benjamin (7-0, 5 KOs), Cleveland, Ohio, 170.1 pounds vs. William Langston (8-3, 5 KOs), 171.9 pounds—6 rounds, light heavyweight

Charlie Sheehy (6-0, 4 KOs), Brisbane, California, 134 ½ pounds vs. Kaylyn Alfred (4-4-2, 0 KOs), Lafayette, Louisiana, 133.4 pounds— 6 rounds, lightweight

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Date: Friday July 28, 2023
Location: Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, NV
TV/Stream: ESPN+

Start Times
ESPN+: 7:30 pm ET | 4:30 pm PT | 12:30 am BST (Preliminary Card)
ESPN+: 11 pm ET | 8 pm PT (Main Card)
Sky Sports: 2 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Top Rank Boxing

Main Card

Unified WBC & WBA Minimumweight Championship
Seniesa Estrada vs. Leonela Paola Yudica

10 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Andres Cortes vs. Xavier Martinez

Preliminary Card

8 Round Lightweight Bout
Karlos Balderas vs. Nahir Albright

8 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Rohan Polanco vs. Cesar Francis

10 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Abraham Nova vs. Jonathan Romero

6 Round Super Bantamweight Bout
Subaru Murata vs. Juan Centeno

6 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Dante Benjamin vs. William Langston

4 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Jaylan Phillips vs. Emond Driver

6 Round Lightweight Bout
Charlie Sheehy vs. Kaylyn Alfred

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Friday night Card.

UK fans it starts at 2 am on Sky sports.

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Nova coming on nicely - good win.

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Polanco like a Somerfield own-brand Cotto.

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Francis had an Aldi Savers range heart.

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Seniesa Estrada Withstands Tough Challenge, Out-Points Leonela Yudica; Retains 105-Pound Belts

Leonela Yudica tested Seniesa Estrada throughout their fan-friendly 105-pound title fight Friday night.

One of the best female fighters in boxing did enough, though, to win their thoroughly entertaining 10-rounder and retained her WBA and WBC minimumweight titles at Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Theater. Yudica demonstratively screamed once the final bell rang, as if she knew she had pulled off what would’ve been a huge upset, but all three judges disagreed with her.

Max De Luca, Chris Migliore and Steve Weisfeld scored their fight identically, 97-93 for Estrada.

“I knew coming into this fight that she was a boxer, she was gonna move away from me,” Estrada told ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna in the ring. “She doesn’t come forward much, so preparing for this fight I just knew that I had to show something different in my style. I mean, my last fight, I fought a good champion who came forward and was aggressive and I easily outboxed her. And with this fight, she’s a boxer and a mover, and I showed, you know, that I can fight any type of style because my style is versatile.”

Her win kept Los Angeles’ Estrada (25-0, 9 KOs) in position for a title unification fight against Yokasta Valle. Costa Rica’s Valle (28-2, 9 KOs), who owns the IBF and WBO 105-pound championships, entered the ring after Estrada’s win and challenged Estrada to fight her in Costa Rica.

Argentina’s Yudica lost for just the second time as a professional (19-2-3, 1 KO, 1 NC), but the former IBF flyweight champion expressed displeasure with the decision during her post-fight interview.

“I don’t agree with what the judges put forth on their scorecards,” Yudica said. “And just look at her face. Nobody’s hit her the way I’ve hit her. I can promise you that. And if she wants to show her face, why doesn’t she take off her hat, so [we] can see how much I hit Seniesa Estrada? And I believe what Yokasta Valle said, ‘You know what? Now come see me where I fight, because if you really wanna be a true champion you’ve got to leave your hometown.’ ”

Despite her loss, Yudica, who competed at the 105-pound limit for the first time, gave Estrada everything she could handle right up until the final bell.

Estrada landed a hard right to Yudica’s body with just under 40 seconds remaining in the 10th round.

A right hand by Yudica caught Estrada with just under 30 seconds to go in the ninth round. Yudica’s left hook also knocked Estrada off balance toward the end of the ninth round.

Yudica connected with several right hands in what was a successful eighth round for her. Estrada pressed the action throughout the eighth round, but she paid the price several times for moving forward with her head exposed.

A left hand by Yudica knocked Estrada backward with just under a minute to go in the seventh round. A right hand by Yudica also stopped Estrada from coming forward a little less than 30 seconds later.

Estrada landed hard punches on the inside during exchanges in the final minute of the sixth round.

A left-right combination by Estrada landed with about 50 seconds to go in the fifth round. She was the aggressor again for most of that fifth round and slipped Yudica’s punches better during those two minutes than in the previous round.

Yudica drilled Estrada with a left hook about 35 seconds into the fourth round. Estrada took that shot well and pressed forward.

Estrada landed another left hook that caused Yudica to hold her with about 45 seconds on the clock in the fourth round.

Estrada caught Yudica with a right-left combination that backed up Yudica with just under 10 seconds on the clock in the third round. A right hand by Yudica landed as Estrada was caught between orthodox and southpaw stances with about a minute to go in the third round.

Yudica connected with a clean right hand with just under 20 seconds to go in the second round.

Estrada switched to a southpaw stance several times during the first round, when she was the aggressor for all two minutes, yet didn’t land many punches.

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Results

Seniesa Estrada UD-10 Leonela Yudica (97-93, 97-93, 97-93)
Andres Cortes RTD-7 Xavier Martinez (3:00)
Nahir Albright MD-8 Karlos Balderas (76-76, 77-75, 77-75)
Rohan Polanco TKO-5 Cesar Francis (1:05)
Abraham Nova KO-3 Jonathan Romero (2:47)
Subaru Murata RTD-3 Juan Centeno (3:00)
Dante Benjamin Jr D-6 William Langston (56-58, 57-57, 57-57)
Charlie Sheehy TKO-3 Kaylyn Alfred (0:31)

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Decent enough fight, competitive

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