Fight Week: Estrada, R. Gonazlez, Martinez on display in Mexico
FIGHT WEEK
A look at the coming week in capsules
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JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA (40-3, 27 KOs)
VS. CARLOS CUADRAS (39-3-1, 27 KOs)
When: Friday, Oct. 23
Where: Gimnasio TV Azteca, Mexico City
TV: DAZN
Division: Junior bantamweight
At stake: Estrada’s WBC title
Odds: Estrada 2½-1
Also on the card: Roman Gonzalez vs. Israel Gonzalez, junior bantamweights; Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Moises Calleros, flyweights
Prediction: Estrada KO 11
Background: Estrada, No. 10 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, is one of the most-respected fighters in the world and at the peak of his powers at 30. He has won four consecutive fights since he was outpointed by Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2018, including a unanimous-decision victory over Sor Rungvisai in the rematch in April of last year. He can box, he can punch, he can do it all. The Mexican has tangled with the athletic Cuadras before, winning a close unanimous decision that was decided by a 10th-round knockdown in 2017. Cuadras, also Mexican, has won three in a row against so-so opposition since losing back-to-back decisions to Estrada and then McWilliam Arroyo. The plan is for Estrada to meet Roman Gonzalez a second time in a title-unification bout, assuming he beats Cuadras and Gonzalez does the same against Israel Gonzalez on this card. Estrada lost a competitive fight with Gonzalez in 2012, when the Nicaraguan was at his peak.
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ROMAN GONZALEZ (49-2, 41 KOs)
VS. ISRAEL GONZALEZ (25-3, 11 KOs)
When: Friday, Oct. 23
Where: Gimnasio TV Azteca, Mexico City
TV: DAZN
Division: Junior bantamweight
At stake: Gonzalez’s WBA title
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Carlos Cuadras, junior bantamweights; Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Moises Calleros, flyweights
Prediction: R. Gonzalez KO 6
Background: Some believed Gonzalez, formerly No. 1 pound for pound, was finished as an elite fighter when he lost back-to-back fights against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai – the second by brutal knockout — in 2017. He knew better. The big-punching Nicaraguan stopped Moises Fuentes, Diomel Diocos and then-unbeaten titleholder Khalid Yafai to reestablish himself as a force in the 115-pound division even though he’s 33. He appears to be set to face Juan Francisco Estrada a second time in a title-unification bout if things go well for both fighters on this card. Israel Gonzalez, from Mexico, is a capable boxer who has come up short in his biggest fights. He was stopped in 10 rounds by Jerwin Ancajas in a 2018 title fight and losing a clear decision to Yafai later that year. He has won his past two fights, including a quality unanimous-decision victory over Sho Ishida this past December in Japan. The Los Cabos fighter is probably in over his head in this fight.
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JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ (16-1, 12 KOs)
VS. MOISES CALLEROS (33-9-1, 17 KOs)
When: Friday, Oct. 23
Where: Gimnasio TV Azteca, Mexico City
TV: DAZN
Division: Flyweight
At stake: Miranda’s WBC title
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Carlos Cuadras, junior bantamweights; Roman Gonzalez vs. Israel Gonazlez, junior bantamweights
Prediction: Martinez KO 4
Background: Martinez is both fun to watch and a talented boxer-puncher who is trained by Eddy Reynoso. The Mexico City product lost his pro debut – a four-round against Joaquin Cruz – but has won all 16 of his subsequent fights (not including one no-contest), including a ninth-round knockout of Cristofer Rosales to win the vacant 112-pound title this past December. He’s coming off a wide decision over previously unbeaten Welshman Jay Harris on Feb. 29 in Frisco, Texas. Martinez was scheduled to face Maximino Flores but Flores had to pull out after testing positive for COVID-19. Calleros, 31, was stopped by Ryuya Yamanaka in a fight for a vacant strawweight title in 2018 but hasn’t fought at that level since moving up in weight. He has won five consecutive fights against second-tier opposition. Martinez represents a significant step up, which might not bode well for the challenger.
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SERGEY LIPINETS (16-1, 12 KOs)
VS. CUSTIO CLAYTON (18-0, 12 KOs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 24
Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
TV: Showtime
Division: Welterweight
At stake: IBF “Interim” title
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Xavier Martinez vs. Claudio Marrero, junior lightweights; Malik Hawkins vs. Subriel Matias, junior welterweights
Prediction: Lipinets UD
Background: Lipinets met his match against Mikey Garcia in 2018, losing a wide decision and his 140-pound title in 2018. The Los Angeles-based native of Kazakhstan then moved up to 147 and has won three in a row, over Erick Bone, Lamont Peterson and Jayar Inson to put himself in title contention at his new weight. He’ll be in prime position to challenge for the IBF title, currently held by Errol Spence Jr., if he wins Saturday. Lipinets is a solid boxer but known more for his pressure fighting and durability. He was scheduled to face Kudratillo Abdukakhorov but the Uzbek had to pull out because of visa issues. Clayton is a 2012 Olympian but largely unproven as a professional. The Montreal fighter has built a gaudy record fighting only in Canada against second-level opposition, including an eighth-round stoppage of Diego Ramirez on Jan. 28 in Toronto. He might be biting off more than he can chew in Lipinets. We’ll learn a lot about him on Saturday.