Fighter Spotlight: El Gallo Estrada
( image: Getty)
One of the best Mexican boxers going right now makes his DAZN debut this Saturday August 24th. Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada(39-3 26KOs), stands firmly engrained in most pundits top 10 Pound 4 Pound list of boxers in the world! (Currently ranked 8th by unbiased RING Magazine.) Only Mexican counterpart Canelo Alvarez is ranked higher. The current WBC and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight Champion Estrada takes on North Carolinas Dewayne Beamon (16-1-1) at the Centro de Usos Multiples in Hermosillo, Mexico.
El Gallo catapulted to Mexican household name familiarity by winning Campeon Azteca: Round 3 2011. In the final, El Gallo avenged his first loss as a pro, trading knockdowns and eventually stopping Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. in the final round. Following the success from the show, El Gallo would challenge future #1 Pound 4 Pound starlet Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in a WBO Title bout. Hindsight being 20-20, the world was treated to a gem of a fight that evening in 2012 featuring future World Class talents.
(via TheRingDigital )
A string of resume boosting victories followed the loss to Chocolatito. Defeating some of the highest-level fighters at the time. Brian Vilora, Milan Melindo, Giovani Segura and Carlos Cuadras to name a few. In March 2017, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez was knocked off his throne from the P4P lists by relatively unknown Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. After Sor Rungvisai defeated Chocolatito once more, El Gallo Estrada stepped up to face Sor Rungvisai next in February 2018. The pair delivered a Fight of The Year candidate, but El Gallo would leave the ring defeated.
( image: Getty)
This past April, El Gallo would avenge that defeat and claim the WBC green belt he long dreamed of! In the process he catapulted to Elite of Elite status and garnered respect and recognition from the boxing industry! El Gallo has the complete package in terms of boxing skills: power, footwork, defense and Ring IQ. As well as other intangibles, he stands only 5’4’’, but his heart belongs on a bigger frame!
The champ makes his long-awaited return to Mexico Saturday, following almost 3 years of fighting here in the US. El Gallo remains very proud, “Thank God, my talent, effort and discipline I’ve accomplished a lot of dreams that I had as a kid.” Estrada said in a recent press conference. He added “Now my objective is to defend my title in Hermosillo and break an attendance record of 10,000 persons in the Centro de Usos Multiples that exists since 1991 in a fight of Maromero Paez vs “Cocas” Ramirez.”
He is far from overlooking his opponent.
( image: Getty)
“We have a risky defense against American Dewayne Beamon,” he stated in the same press conference. “, he is fast of hands and has a front style, but that is good to provide a great fight to all the fans in the world. Thanks to Matchroom Boxing USA, Zanfer Promotions, DAZN and Latin Sports for making this fight possible.”
El Gallo is eons above anyone Beamon has faced. Should El Gallo be victorious (and I believe he will, late stoppage) a showdown with WBA Champion Khalid “Kal” Yafai would be on deck for fans! A unification bout that may be on the Andy Ruiz Jr vs Anthony Joshua rematch. First though, task is at hand Saturday. Stay focused and sharp Gallo! We’ll be watching.
· Article written by:
· Manuel “Hopper” Dominguez
· @ManuelDStayTru