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Super Bad Estrada Primed To
Defend World Titles In Las Vegas
Pound-4-pound dynamo Seniesa "Super Bad” Estrada (24-0, 9
KOs) will defend her unified WBC/WBA minimumweight world
titles against Argentina's former world champion Leonela
Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) this Friday at Pearl Concert Theater
at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
In the 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, unbeaten Las
Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) will take
on Sacramento-born contender Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs).
Estrada-Yudica headlines a full card that will stream live
and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m.
ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed action includes the return of 2016 U.S.
Olympian Karlos Balderas (14-1, 12 KOs), who takes on
Philadelphia's Nahir Albright (15-2, 7 KOs) in an
eight-round lightweight showdown.
Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (9-0, 5 KOs) steps up in
class against Panamanian contender Cesar Francis (12-1, 7
KOs) in a junior welterweight tilt scheduled for eight
rounds, and hard-hitting Japanese southpaw Subaru Murata
(4-0, 4 KOs) looks to extend his knockout streak in a
six-round junior featherweight clash.
Also in scheduled eight-rounders are lightweight prospect
and former Team USA amateur standout Charlie Sheehy (6-0, 4
KOs) and Cleveland-born light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr.
(7-0, 5 KOs).
At Wednesday's press conference, this is what the fighters
had to say.
Seniesa Estrada
“This is just the beginning. We’re at a time in women’s
boxing where all the top women are starting to headline. So,
I’m just grateful and happy with Top Rank and ESPN for
allowing me to be one of the female fighters that is leading
the way for the next generation and for all the women in the
sport.”
“I go into every fight wanting to make a statement. I always
want to show a different part of everything I can do in the
ring. I never overlook any opponent. I know that she has
faced tough champions before, and she is not afraid to take
a risk and fight champions. But my style is unlike any other
champion she’s faced.”
“Everyone thinks they’re going to shock the world when they
get in the ring me. But then, that bell rings and they see
that my style is just different. I’m a different fighter.”
Leonela Yudica
“I’m very happy to have this opportunity. It’s a great
pleasure, as a native from San Juan, Argentina, to be able
to present myself for the first time in Las Vegas so that
everyone can get to know me for the first time. It’s a great
opportunity, and I am ready for this.”
“I’m positive that they have underestimated me. I have had a
lot of fights, and I have a lot of experience. I defended my
flyweight title 10 times. And while it is a great challenge
to be going down in weight, I am ready and prepared to show
that I have everything it takes to become world champion
again.”
Andres Cortes
“I’m very excited. I’d beat both of these guys [Martinez and
Nova] on the same night. I’m willing to knock out two guys
in the same week. I’m not worried about him [Martinez]. He’s
in here looking like a homeless man. This is easy work. I
look good and I feel good. And I can’t wait to smack this
guy.”
“I run Vegas. This is my city. I think Martinez’s biggest
mistake was leaving {trainer} Ray Woods. He’s going to say
that this is his greatest camp. But he’s hunched back and he
looks scared. He’s afraid. And I can’t wait to put on a good
ass-whooping’.”
Xavier Martinez
“I’m really excited to come back. In my last fight, things
happened. But that’s life. It is what it is. But I’m
bouncing back. I had a great camp for this one. I’m excited
to go out there and do what I do. I’m ready to get back to
where I need to be.”
“Working with Robert Garcia has been great. This camp went a
lot better than the previous one. I had more time with him
this time because he was more focused with Anthony Joshua
around the time I had my first fight with him. This time, we
were actually able to work more.”
Abraham Nova
“‘My motto is, ‘No fear, no doubt.' You have to have no fear
and you have to keep moving forward. Robeisy Ramirez is a
tough fighter. A lot of things didn’t go my way in that
fight. But you’ve got to be mentally strong in this game.
Confidence is the biggest thing that will help us fighters
move forward.”
“You will always see fireworks in my fights. I come to get
the knockout. Jonathan Romero is a tough opponent. He is a
former world champion. I’m excited about what I’m going to
do Friday night.”
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