Via Ken Hissner: At Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Saturday before DAZN, Fernando Beltran (Promociones Zanfer), Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy Promotion) and Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) presented a great card in the Main Event, former champion Two-tier world champion Juan Francisco Estrada defeated Argi Cortes in an all-Mexican event in his super fly defense.
In the Bronze event, WBA Women’s Featherweight Champion Erika “Dinamite” Cruz won a rematch against Jelena Mrdjenovich.
In the Main Event, former WBA & WBC double fly super flyweight world champion Juan Francisco Estrada, 43-3 (28), #114.6, of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MEX, Argi Cortes, 23-3- 2 (10), #114.6, of Mexico City, Distrito Federation, MEX, more than 12 rounds.
In the first two innings, Estrada used a left hook to the chin while Cortes counterattacked well. In the third round, the action continued with the fans showing interest in both Mexico City boxers. They had their share of the fans. Cortes came back well with a left hook to the chin at the last minute.
In the fourth round, Cortes won boldly with his right hand behind his right hand, sometimes 3 hits on Estrada’s chin. In the fifth round, a fight broke out, with both taking large shots to the head with a light punch to the body.
In the sixth round, Cortes got into trouble with Estrada in the final seconds of the round, causing him to rush into the rope at the bell. In the seventh round, Estrada defeated Cortes with a ball on the body of 8 counts. He made it through the lap but barely.
In the 8th and 9th rounds, Estrada continued to pressurize a retreating Cortes with a header. Estrada’s left hook dominated the round with regular punches from Cortes in the tenth round.
In the 11th round, Estrada used his left hook while Cortes defended mainly with counter-attacks and sometimes punches. In the twelfth and final inning, Estrada fought like a champion he was rocking Cortes with rights with little reciprocation. Estrada was trying to get a knockout, and Cortes needed one to win.
The scores are 115-112 and 114-113, respectively. This writer 116-112.
In the rematch, WBA World Featherweight Champion Erika “Dinamite” Cruz, 15-1 (3), #15 ¾, of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MEX, successfully defended her title, beat Jelena Mrdjenovich, 41-12-2 (19), #125, of Edmonton, Alberta, CAN, on 10 x 2 laps.
In the first round, Mrdjenovich rushed to throw a right at Cruz’s head. Halfway through the round, Cruz landed with a solid right hook to the chin to the cheers of the crowd. In the second round, both had punches to the head.
In the third round, the slugfest continued back and forth. Mrdjenovich was warned for hitting his head. In the fourth round, a left shot from Cruz caused Mrdjenovich’s right eye to swell.
In the fifth and sixth innings, both had their moments, with Cruz finishing stronger of the two with the exception of the sixth inning when Mrdjenovich landed a massive punch to the chin. In the seventh round, Cruz had the best record of the round in a recent match.
In the eighth round, the action continued with Cruz kicking Mrjenovich with a punch to the chin mid-round. In the ninth inning, Mrjenovich seemed to have completed the closest round.
In the tenth and final inning, both of which were bombing, Mrjenovich grabbed Flores and carried her onto the canvas. Mfjenovich is 3-0 in rematches but it doesn’t look like this will be another.
The scores of all judges were 100-90 and 98-92 for this writer.
WBC International Featherweight Champion Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez, 33-1 (30), #129 ½, of Mexico City, impressed when stopping Jorge “Kan” Mata, 15-1-2 ( 10), #129 ½, in total Tonala, Jalisco, MEX, at 1:15 of the fifth set of ten scheduled innings.
Hernandez shoved Mata around the ring in the first round with body- and headers. In the final 20 seconds, a header from Hernandez rocked Mata. Hernandez landed three punches early in the final seconds. In the second half, Mata came out and headed his forehand straight into Hernandez’s head. Hernandez was in a gunfight in this round. In the final seconds, Mata netted Hernandez with a left kick to the chin.
In the third round, swelling started appearing outside both of Mata’s eyes early in the round. Hernandez took control of the action. A poke from Mata snatched Hernandez’s head back for half a round.
In the fourth round, Hernandez will lower his arms to his sides, responding to a vicious body attack. With a minute left, it was Mata’s turn to hurl four punches to Hernandez’s head.
In the 5th round, Hernandez appeared with bad intentions to end the round, causing Mata to run around the ring, nosebleed near the end of the first minute, knocking Mata down with a left for 8 points. from Referee Francisco Laveaga. In the end, the referee had to stop the game when Mata was fighting the ropes, defenseless, performing a left butt on the chin and banging his head off after referee Laveaga had seen enough, demanding a stop.
Flyweight Hector “Baby Bull” Flores Calixto, 20-1-4 (10), 107, of Tijuana, Baja California, lost to Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga, 11-0 (9), 107, of Reeston, Eastern Cape, RSA, 12 rounds for the empty IBF world lightweight belt, beat the difference.
In the first round, the high-handed Flores used an effective shot that sent Nontshinga back for the entire round. In the second half, after a minute of defense, Nontshinga took the lead just above the chin, and knocked Flores down by 8 counts. He fought his way back to the rest of the inning.
In the third inning, Flores returned to control until one minute remained when Nontshinga landed the right, blocking Flores in his track and forcing a clinch. Flores returned immediately, doing the rest of the round. In the fourth round, it was all Flores with a fierce body attack as Nontshinga struggled to hold. It was a big round for Flores.
In the 5th round, a head collision caused Flores to be slashed in the forehead, bleeding into the eye. Flores put pressure on Nontshinga for the rest of the half. In the sixth round, Flores forced Nontshinga to almost give up on the body attack.
In the seventh round, they fought foot by foot, punch after punch during the three-minute slide. In the eighth round, the action continued with both of them nearly exhausted. In the ninth round, with headbutts, both of them relentlessly launched landing punches. It’s a battle over nutrition.
In the tenth round, the cut from the fifth round is reopened which has been kept in good condition. In the 11th half, Nontshinga came back well. In the eleventh round, Nontshinga was warned twice for holding out because he was trying to fight back when Flores won it away.
In the 12th and final round, Flores’ left eye was closed while Nontshinga was warned twice for using his forearm and head. They are still ringing the bell.
Scores are 116-111 for Nontshinga, 115-112 for Flores and 114-113 for Nontshinga, and 114-113 from this writer for Flores.
Ring Announcer David Diamante
