By José Antonio Perez
The pride of Puerto Peñasco, Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada, is quickening his pace and fully preparing for what will be his first fight of the year.
In 2017, the Peñasco prizefighter hopes to once again be crowned World Champ (now in a new category) while facing the best in the super flyweight division.
“God willing, we hope this year will once again put us in first place, and to be world champs in this division. That’s our goal,” expressed Estrada.
At the time of this interview, the Peñasco boxer indicated he could reappear as early as late February or early March. On February 8th, ZANFER Promotions announced El Gallo would be facing Edgar Sosa of Mexico City on March 11th at the Arena Ciudad de México. In the meantime, El Gallito continues his training in Hermosillo, where he’s been since late December of last year.
“I’m training, and thinking I could come back at the end of February or beginning of March. I don’t yet have a date, or a venue, though they’re telling me I could reappear around that time. That’s why I keep working out at the gym,” detailed El Gallo.
Among super flyweight contenders, El Gallo has Román “Chocolatito” González in his sights, as well as Naoya Inoue of Japan and fellow Mexican boxer Carlos “Príncipe” Cuadras.
“Undoubtedly,” emphasizes Estrada, “I want to face off against el Chocolatito. I also want to measure up against Cuadras or Inoe. I believe (super flyweight) is a category where there’s lots to talk about. There’s also Panamanian Luis Concepción, and Khalid Yafai of the U.K. who beat ‘Nica’. There are a lot I would like to face, I just hope they give me the opportunity and I’d be thrilled to fight them.”
El Gallo also emphasized his world flyweight championship titles, both from the WBO and WBA, were won when fighting abroad, recalling he beat Hawaiian Brian Viloria in Macao, China.
Yet, before thinking about the big names in the super flyweight division (115 lbs), Estrada hopes to have a 10-round bout so he can continue to rise in the global rankings.
“It’s difficult at this point that any world champ would give me an opportunity, but I’m going to continue fighting in 10 to 12 rounds. If there’s an empty belt, we’ll take it,” shared the pride of Puerto Peñasco.