In a super flyweight title clash that concluded earlier today, unified world champion Jesse Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) lived up to expectations, knocking out defending WBC super flyweight titlist Juan Francisco Estrada (44-4, 28 KOs) in the seventh round to reclaim the WBC belt for the second time.
The event took place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and headlined the DAZN broadcast. Thirty-four-year-old Estrada, ten years Rodriguez’s senior, had not fought in 18 months and appeared slightly rusty.
From the start, Rodriguez dictated the pace, landing his jabs with greater clarity and effectiveness. Estrada seemed off, a step slower, and lacked his previous sharpness, trailing on the scorecards. In round four, Rodriguez landed a left-hand straight that dropped Estrada for the first time. In round six, Estrada managed to floor Rodriguez with a right-hand power punch, but failed to significantly hurt him. Rodriguez responded effectively with his subsequent attacks. As the seventh round came to a close, Rodriguez delivered a liver shot that ended Estrada’s night.
With this victory, the 24-year-old Rodriguez’s professional record improves to 20 wins, with 13 of those coming by way of knockout. Standing at 5’4″ with a reach of 67″, the southpaw fighter previously stopped Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in eight rounds and Edward’s in nine, showcasing a combination of power, technique, and speed. He is currently ranked ninth in The Ring magazine’s pound-for-pound list.