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Was the issue Juan Francisco Estrada’s 18-month layoff? Did he underestimate relative unknown Argi Cortes? Or is Cortes merely significantly better than anybody realized?
Regardless of the motive or causes, followers acquired a surprisingly aggressive combat between the junior bantamweights Saturday in Hermosillo, Mexico.
Estrada gained what had been billed a tune-up combat however he needed to dig deep to take action, placing Cortes down and profitable a unanimous resolution by scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113.
Nonetheless, the WBC “franchise champion” didn’t appear to be the dominating fighter we’ve come to know.
“I used to be actually shocked,” Estrada mentioned. “I didn’t count on him to return out so exhausting. I’ve double his fights. The expertise clearly took over. I used to be shocked. He’s an incredible fighter. However, once more, the champion is the champion.”
Estrada (43-3, 28 KOs) is now set to face rival Roman Gonzalez for a 3rd time on Dec. 3, 21 months after Estrada defeated him by a disputed break up resolution.
May the model of Estrada we noticed on Saturday beat the good “Chocolatito”?
He gave a strong efficiency in opposition to Cortes, taking the combat to his youthful opponent and touchdown clear, exhausting photographs with consistency. The issue for him was that his impressed countryman matched him punch for punch and took every thing Estrada threw at him, the one exception being a left to the physique that put him down in Spherical 7.
Cortes, skilled by Nacho Beristain, demonstrated that he’s a superb, sturdy boxer. He additionally wasn’t fazed one bit by the largest second of his profession, which added to his effectiveness.
The distinction within the combat was Estrada’s success within the championship rounds. He led on two of three playing cards after eight rounds however got here out on prime on all three by the top of the combat, a testomony to his willpower and expertise.
Nonetheless, if any fighter took a step ahead in defeat, it was Cortes. He took 5 rounds on two playing cards and 6 on the third in opposition to one of many most-respected little fighters of his technology, which was eye-opening to these unfamiliar with him.
The 27-year-old Mexico Metropolis resident clearly stamped himself as a rising younger contender.
After all, ultimately, the night time belonged to Estrada. The long run Corridor of Famer survived his tune-up and may now give attention to what arguably would be the largest combat of his profession, the rubber match in opposition to Gonzalez.
The powerful combat with Cortes, he mentioned, served its goal.
“That’s why I used to be actually in search of to getting this combat carried out,” he mentioned. “I needed to ensure I appeared good, that I had no accidents. I’m a bit bit bruised however I did what I needed to do. The conditioning and work that I did for 3 months is precisely what I wanted to do after 16 months of layoff.
“… I’ll be prepared for that date (Dec. 3).”
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