Those in attendance at the Footprint Center in Phoenix may witness a passing of the baton and a veteran's stay at the top of the world when Juan Francisco Estrada faces off against Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez on June 29. The fight, with Estrada's WBC and RING super flyweight titles on the line, will air on DAZN.
Estrada (44-3), who has won gold medals at light flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight, is on an eight-fight winning streak dating back to 2018 and is 2-1 after winning all three of his fights with a points win over fellow boxing great Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in December 2022.
The 34-year-old Estrada is returning from a 19-month hiatus to face an opponent 10 years his junior.
“I consider myself a complete boxer, I can go in and put pressure on him and brawl, and I don't think Bam's going to win easily,” Estrada told BoxingScene. “Bam Rodriguez has to be ready to die, because I'm ready to give it my all in the ring, and this is a fight I'm not going to let slip away.”
WATCH: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse Rodriguez, live on DAZN
Rodriguez (19-0) is already a two-division champion since turning pro in 2017. “Bam” is set to win the WBC super flyweight title in 2022, WBO flyweight gold in April 2023 and defeat Sonny Edwards to win the IBF title in December. He will return to the 115-pound division to reclaim his WBC belt.
On the undercard, a former champion will be looking to get back into form, while the women's title bout is likely to attract attention.
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse Rodriguez undercard
Here are some details about the highly anticipated Estrada vs. Rodriguez bout.
Sunny Edwards vs. Adrian Curiel
- Division/WeightFlyweight
- Edwards Record: 20-1
- Curiel Records: 24-5-1
- The belt is fastened: Not applicable
In the collaborative work Sunny Edwards versus Adrian Curiel.
Edwards (20-1) won the IBF flyweight title in 2021 and successfully defended it four times. Against Rodriguez, Edwards lost in the ninth round. The 2015 English Championship gold medallist will be looking to bounce back and get back into world title contention.
Buy Now: Cheapest Estrada vs. Rodriguez Tickets
Curiel (24-5-1) is moving up in weight after a successful run as the IBF light flyweight champion. The 25-year-old Mexican won the title in 2023 with a knockout victory over Sivenati Nonsingha, then started off with a knockout loss in the rematch in 2024. The former champion is looking for more glory in a new weight class, and Edwards is a bold choice as an opponent for his 112-pound debut.
Yamileth Mercado vs. Ramla Ali
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Mercado Records: 23-3
- Ali Records: 9-1
- The belt is fastened: WBC Super Bantamweight Title
Yamileth Mercado Defends WBC Super Bantamweight title Ramla Ali.
Mercado (23-3) defeated Fatuma Zarika to win the WBC super bantamweight title in 2019, avenging a loss from 2018. She was unsuccessful in a featherweight title challenge against Amanda Serrano, but has since returned to the super bantamweight division and has won five straight bouts. “Yeymi” has recorded five knockout victories.
Ali (9-1) will be competing for gold for the first time. The 34-year-old made history in Saudi Arabia in August 2022 when she faced Crystal Garcia Nova in the country's first women's boxing bout. She is 2-1 in 2023 after losing 1-1 to Julissa Alejandra Guzman.
Arturo Popoca vs. Danny Barrios
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Popoka Record: 13-0-1
- Record of Barrios: 15-0
- The belt is fastened: Not applicable
Arturo Popoca face Danny Barrios In a super bantamweight bout.
Popoca (13-0-1) has won eight of his fights by knockout. He’s looking to get his second win in 2024 and become the next big thing to come out of Mexico.
Read more: Top 12 pound-for-pound fighters in women's boxing
Barrios (15-0), whose five wins have come by knockout, is 26 and lives in Phoenix, where he primarily competes in Arizona.
Gabriel Murata vs. Carlos Fontes
- Division/Weight: Bantamweight
- Muratara Record: 11-0
- Fontes Records: 23-3-1
- The belt is fastened: Not applicable
Further down on the card Gabriel Murata versus Carlos Fontes.
Murata (11-0) entered the boxing ranks as a kindergarten teacher. He won six bouts by knockout, returning to the ring a month after beating Aramis Solis in Mexico.
Fontes (23-3-1) has won 19 of his fights by knockout and has a record of 3-1-1 in his last five fights. All three of “Divino’s” last fights have ended by TKO.
MORE: Exclusive: Pound-for-pound star Bam Rodriguez prepares for Estrada challenge
Fabian Rojo vs. Daniel Gonzalez
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Roho Records: 8-0
- Gonzales Record: 5-1
- The belt is fastened: Not applicable
Fabian Rojo face Daniel Gonzalez.
Rojo (8-0), who has won all but two of his fights by knockout, is 22 and looking to further his progress as a welterweight in 2023 after winning four fights.
Gonzalez (5-1), who is riding a two-fight winning streak with two wins by knockout, will be looking to put a stop to Rojo’s momentum as a New Mexico native.
Leonardo Rubalcava vs. William Flennoy
- Division/Weight: Ultra-lightweight
- The Rubalcava Record: 7-0
- Flennoy Record: 3-3-1
- The belt is fastened: Not applicable
finally, Leonardo Rubalcava face William Flenoy.
Rubalcaba (7-0), who recently signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing, will be looking to score his fourth win in 2024 and his eighth since turning pro in 2023.
Flennoy (3-3-1) is 1-1-1 in its last three games.
Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse Rodriguez viewing information
- Date: Saturday, June 29th
- time: 9pm (7pm Qualifying) | 2am BST (Sunday) | 11am AEST (Sunday)
- Main event start time (approximate): 12am EST | 5am BST (Sunday) | 2am AEST (Sunday)
- position: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
- How to watch:
- DAZN Monthly Subscription: In the US it costs $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 per month, in Canada it costs $24.99 per month, in the UK it costs £9.99 on a 12-month contract or £19.99 per month, and in Australia it costs AUD$13.99.
- DAZN Annual Subscription$224.99 in the US, $199.99 in Canada, £99.99 in the UK
