BoxRec

Juan Francisco Estrada-Argi Cortes Set For September 3; Show To Include Erika Cruz-Jelena Mrdjenovich Rematch

Juan Francisco Estrada will head home for his first fight after being removed as WBA titlist.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the lineal junior bantamweight champion and WBC “Franchise” titlist will next face countryman Argi Cortes atop a September 3 show from Estrada’s hometown of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The bout was confirmed during the WBC’s latest ‘Martes de Café’ weekly meeting Tuesday in Mexico City.

The card—which will air live on DAZN—will also include the long-delayed WBA featherweight rematch between defending titlist Erika Cruz and former long-reigning WBA/WBC champ Jelena Mrdjenovich. A formal announcement on the entire show is expected in the coming days, likely to include at least one more title fight.

Estrada (42-3, 28KOs) will end an 18-month ring absence with the fight, which comes shortly after being relieved of his WBA junior bantamweight title reign for failure to defend against Joshua Franco (18-1-2, 8KOs). The title consolidation clash was ordered months ago by the WBA, with Golden Boy Promotions winning the purse bid in hopes of staging the bout on either June 11 or July 16.

Both dates came and went without a fight, as did an extended period of the WBA seeking confirmation from Estrada on his plans to defend. As previously reported by BS.com, the WBA then ruled to remove Estrada’s WBA

“Super” title from circulation, leaving Franco—who previously held a secondary version of the title—as the lone 115-pound titleholder as recognized by the sanctioning body.

The moves made by Estrada were two-fold, with the primary intention to move forward with a long-awaited rubber match against legendary former four-division champ Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (51-3-1, 41KOs). Such a bout is targeted for December, though no firm confirmation yet offered.

Cortes (23-2-2, 10KOs) will step well up in class for the fight. The 27-year-old from Mexico City has only fought three scheduled ten-round bouts—scoring two knockouts and a seven-round technical decision—and will face his first current or former champion. Cortes will enter the fight armed with a 23-fight unbeaten streak, including wins in his last ten starts.

Mexico City’s Cruz (14-1, 3KOs) dethroned Canada’s Mrdjenovich via technical unanimous decision last April in West Point, New York. One title defense followed for Cruz, a ten-round split decision win over Melissa Esquivel last November 26 on a DAZN show from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Mrdjenovich (41-11-2, 19KOs) has not fought since the loss to Cruz. The upset defeat ended her second title reign which dated back to a March 2016 win over Edith Soledad Matthysse to regain her WBA/WBC titles after losing a ten-round decision to the Argentinean in their August 2015 unification match.

Estrada edged Gonzalez via a disputed split decision to defend the WBC title and win the WBA strap last March 13 in Dallas, having not since fought. The feat saw Estrada avenge an eight-plus year old defeat to Gonzalez in their November 2012 WBA junior flyweight title fight, with the rematch prompting high demand for a trilogy.

Plans for Estrada-Gonzalez III were set for last October 16. Estrada made the fight happen by exchanging his physical WBC belt for the “Franchise” title in lieu of a third fight with mandatory challenger Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, a former two-time champ who split two fights with Estrada.

The rubber match was postponed when Gonzalez tested positive for Covid. The third act was rescheduled for March 5, this time with Estrada testing positive and shutting down training camp in mid-January. Gonzalez went on to face and beat WBC flyweight Julio Cesar Martinez in a non-title fight at 115 pounds. The fight was sanctioned by the WBC, with the promise of the winner getting a crack at Estrada as its “Franchise” champion.

Conflict arose when the WBA—who waited out two postponements—moved forward with its title consolidation plans. Estrada has clearly made his choice, though beforehand comes a rust-shaking bout in his first fight in his hometown since August 2019 in a win over Dewayne Beamon. He has since fought in Mexico City and Dallas, with injuries and illness slowing down his career though now back at full health.

Card

Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Argi Cortes

Erika Cruz vs. Jelena Mrdjenovich

Hector Flores vs. Sivenathi Nontshinga

Eduardo Hernandez vs. Jorge Mata

meh

Fight week!!.

Hasn’t fought in like 18 months.

He should have just vacated the belt ages ago if he weren’t gonna fight.

Estrada-Cortes undercard:

Erika Cruz vs. Jelena Mrdjenovich
Hector Flores vs. Sivenathi Nontshinga
Eduardo Hernandez vs. Jorge Mata

Date: September 03, 2022
Location: Centro de Usos Multiples - Hermosillo, Son. Mexico

Broadcast: DAZN

Start time: 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT / 1 am BST / 10 am AEST

Organizer: Matchroom Boxing

Fight Card

WBC Franchise & Ring Magazine Super Flyweight Championship
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Argi Cortes

WBA World Featherweight Championship
Erika Cruz vs. Jelena Mrdjenovich

Vacant IBF World Flyweight Championship
Hector Flores vs. Sivenathi Nontshinga

WBC Silver International Super Featherweight Championship
Eduardo Hernandez vs. Jorge Mata

cards starting now. Nothing special but if you dont mind lil dudes throwing down its decent.

Hernandez is throwing heaaaaat. very entertaining round 1. its kinda a low volume war, if Mata can hang about this could become very fun.

Main event is a bit of a war although Estrada more skilled. But it’s closer than it should be…

I never watch fights not live. But if you missed this and have time it’s worth a watch. Lil fellas going to war.

Matchroom saying estrada vs choc december 3rd... quick turn around considering how many big shots he took tonight... delt a few too, sure his hands will be tender for a bit.

ive seen jfe look ho hum in these types of fights before so not gonna make a big deal out of it, but that was a legit close fight and he took lots of shots ,. wouldve been an md w/o the knockdown

anything that plays into roman's hands after he got robbed in the rematch is cool with me

Yea was deadly close. could of gone either way really.

I find it hard to belive Estrada will fight december 3rd. I dont really know, but i would of thoght he would need a good few weeks off after that...

If it does happen that date. and if Cortes is also ok, corts vs franko on the undercard would be an absolute bellllllter. although i think thats too soon for cortes but Id love it...

Nontshinga and Flores serving up a FOTY contender, incredible fight, Nontshinga won the Split but I agreed with the 115-112 card for Flores, he got dropped by a Nontshinga right hand in the 2nd but in the 3rd he just cut loose with an incredible amount of punches and dragged the more polished Nontshinga into a war of attrition, Nontshinga fought well to hang in there with Flores but Flores just didn't stop pushing out the punches, a lot of arm punches down the stretch which was no surprise as he was relentless in his workrate, both guys targeted the body to slow the other man down but neither would be denied, an amazing fight, im happy for Nontshinga for playing his part but Flores should be the new World Light Flyweight champ imo

114-113 Estrada close close fight, wouldn't have argued if Cortes edged it, he fought incrediblely hard, outboxed and outworked Estrada for spells but also outfought him , didn't mind exchanging and came off best several times, Estrada was a bit up and down, landed some nice body shots, dropped Cortes in the 7th with a left hook downstairs, caught him with clean left hooks but it was the lead right hand to the head which one him the fight for me, snapped Cortes head back time and again and he did have the bit of quality in his work, full kudos to Cortes tough hombre, fought on even terms but Estrada just about done enough

114 - 113 Estrada, due to the KD. He looked as if he hadn't skipped that much of a beat, honestly, but I predicted a more dominant win; Argi came in wanting all that smoke and giving lots of it back, a great surprise.

The rest of the card was fun too, especially Nontshinga vs. Flores Calixto (the former deserved the decision).