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Juan Francisco Estrada is planning a tetralogy with Chococalito Gonzalez, but is focusing on Bam Rodriguez

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RING 115-pound champion Juan Francisco Estrada addresses the media following a press conference on June 27 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photos: Amanda Westcott, Matchroom Boxing

Juan Francisco Estrada is ready to go through the present to revisit the past.

The reigning Ring/WBC junior bantamweight champion is set to share the ring with Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez once again. The pair of future Hall of Famers have fought three memorable bouts, with Estrada holding a 2-1 lead in each.

A fourth fight has not been ruled out after their great clash in December 2022, won by majority decision by Estrada (44-3, 28 knockouts). The 34-year-old from Hermosillo, Mexico must first defeat one of the best juvenile talents in the sport, 24-year-old Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KO).

Needless to say, he’s up for the challenge.

“People sometimes disrespect fighters like me when they say, ‘Gallo Estrada is too ancient,’” Estrada said. “But on Saturday, I’ll show that’s not true and my career will continue to grow for a while. “A lot of people say we’re too ancient, but if Chocolatito becomes bantamweight champion, a fourth fight would be great.”

Estrada-Rodriguez headlines DAZN’s four-fight broadcast Saturday night from the Footprint Center, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, as Estrada makes his seventh defense of The Ring junior bantamweight title.

For Estrada, this will be the first fight since the trilogy with Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KO). Injuries and an inability to secure a unification fight led to his 18-month layoff.

Interestingly, the division champions will target Kazuto Ioka (31-2-1, 16 KO) and Fernando “Puma” Martinez (16-0, 9 KO). Their WBA/IBF unification fight on July 7 will pit The Ring’s No. 2 and No. 3 junior bantamweights against each other in a fantastic matchup in Tokyo.

Estrada is still looking for fights in the older part of his Hall of Fame career. The two-division champion begins his fourteenth fight in his career, for the championship belt or The Ring championship.

That’s a high order compared to the near-perfect Rodriguez. Despite this, Estrada is undefeated for over six years and has a proven track record at the elite level.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, is launching his own comeback. The former four-division champion will face bantamweight contender Robert Berrera (27-5, 17 KOs) on July 12 at home in Managua, Nicaragua. If he wins, “Chocolatito” is expected to pursue the bantamweight title.

A fifth division title for the Nicaraguan legend would be the perfect incentive for Estrada to move up in weight.

“I think winning any world title in any division at our age would be nippy,” Estrada said. “Not everyone could do it. If Chocolatito becomes bantamweight champion, we will pursue him or any champion at that weight.”

Of course, there is still the issue of changing rates on Saturday.

“We can have plans and make plans, but first we have to focus on the fight in front of us,” Estrada admitted. “If they say they’re going to knock me out, they’re going to beat me, and then they’re going to go up the division they’re going to face [WBA 118 titlist Takuma] Inoue is their business, but we’ll see on Saturday.

“If Jesse Rodríguez beats me, it will be because he is a better boxer, not because of anything other than my age. They say a lot that I am ancient, that I am retiring, and on Saturday I will show that I am not.”

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The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena

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Rocha vs Curiel

In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).

The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00

“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”

Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.

“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.

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George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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