On a weekend that also featured Teofimo Lopez, two Latino warriors were primed to make a statement as Juan Francisco Estrada placed his WBC super-flyweight title on the line against Jesse Rodriguez, a weight-hopping 24-year-old talent who had already beaten Sunny Edwards, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras.
Rodriguez’s thrilling KO victory, closed with a crunching body shot, sees him mentioned, possibly for the first time, in the same breath as the likes of Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, Artur Beterbiev, Canelo and potential future rival Naoya Inoue.
Covering the entire event for Boxing News Online, Daniel Bartel captured all the moments that mattered.
Jesse Rodriguez KO7 Juan Francisco Estrada – WBC super-flyweight title and Ring Magazine belt
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez during their WBC World and Ring Magazine Super Flyweight title fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez during their WBC World and Ring Magazine Super Flyweight title fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
Sunny Edwards TD9 Adrian Curiel – Flyweight
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Sunny Edwards and Adrian Curiel during their fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Sunny Edwards and Adrian Curiel during their fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
Yamileth Mercado PTS10 Ramla Ali – WBC super-bantamweight title
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Yamileth Mercado and Ramla Ali during their WBC World Female Super Bantamweight title fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Yamileth Mercado and Ramla Ali during their WBC World Female Super Bantamweight title fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
Arturo Cardenas PTS10 Danny Barrios – WBC Continental Americas super-bantamweight title
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Arturo Cardenas and Danny Barrios during their WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight title fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
Gabriel Muratalla PTS8 Carlos Fontes – Bantamweight
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Gabriel Muratalla and Carlos Fontes during their fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
Fabian Rojo TKO2 Daniel Gonzalez – Welterweight
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Fabian Rojo and Daniel Gonzalez during their fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News
Leonardo Rubalcava PTS6 William Flenoy – Super-lightweight
June 29, 2024; Phoenix, AZ; Leonardo Rubalcava and William Flenoy during their fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel/Boxing News