Puerto Peñasco took it on the chin last night. That’s because native son, Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada took a left hook in the liver at the end of the 7th round of his WBC super flyweight title fight. The vicious knockout punch by challenger Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez earned him his first championship belt.
“El Gallo” Estrada was visibly in pain. His 115-pound body was curled into a ball rolling around on the canvas. He was not even close to recovering before the referee’s 10-second count ended the fight. “I got him with a good body shot,” Rodriguez told reporters after the fight. “And I saw the way he was rolling on the floor. I knew that was it.”
“El Gallo” Estrada Fight vs. Father Time?
There is a saying often used in sports. “Father Time is undefeated.” It speaks to when older athletes run out of time to stay on top of their game. Father Time is undefeated because every person and athlete grows older. Hence, he may have been the other opponent in the ring the 34-year-old “El Gallo” Estrada was battling besides the 24-year-old slugger, Bam Rodriguez.
Estrada resides in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He moved there from Puerto Peñasco at age 15 to better his chances at a professional boxing career. The champion at two different weight classes entered the fight at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, last night as a sure Hall of Famer. But that is in the future.
Odds Against Estrada
His recent past was the bigger issue because Estrada was coming off an 18-month hiatus. Perhaps ring rust played a role. However, despite fighting the champion, the young, rising star out of San Antonio, Texas, was the heavy betting favorite. You had to bet $800-dollars on Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez to win $100-dollars. Meantime, you could bet only $20-dollars on “El Gallo” Estrada to win the same $100-dollars.
Rodriguez appeared to be getting the best of Estrada during the fight. His scored his first knockdown in the fourth round. However, the veteran champion was able to continue.
Then in the sixth round, Estrada threw a straight hand which caught Rodriquez flush and he went down on the canvas in a hurry. Yet, the young Bam was back on his feet nearly as quickly and got right back in the bout.
Rematch with Bam Rodriguez
There was already a contract for a rematch in place before last night. After all, it was being billed as the fight of the year. “El Gallo” Estrada told the media in post-fight interviews; he was all in on getting another chance. “I know the mistake I made in there and I want the rematch.”
Meanwhile, maybe he will return home to Puerto Peñasco for some rest, relaxation, and recovery. Juan Francisco Estrada knows as well as anyone, Sandy Beach is a great destination for that.