By Norm Frauenheim –
PHOENIX – Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn is looking to bring Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez back to Arizona for a projected Super Fly title fight against Juan Francisco Estrada.
Hearn talked about the possibility this week while in Phoenix for the John Ryder-Jaime Munguia super-middleweight fight Saturday night at Footprint Center.
“We want to bring Bam-Estrada here for some time this summer,’’ said Hearn, also Ryder’s promoter.
Hearn was in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb, last month to promote Rodriguez’ dramatic ninth-round stoppage of Sunny Edwards at Desert Diamond Arena for the unified flyweight title on Dec. 16.
After the 112-pound bout, Rodriguez said he wanted to move up to 115 pounds in a bid to reclaim his old title against Estrada.
“I’ve been wanting to face Estrada,’’ Rodriguez said the after a victory that got him pound-for-pound consideration. “Why not now?’’
Estrada’s last fight was also at Desert Diamond where he scored a majority decision for the World Boxing Council’s super-fly title over accomplished Roman Gonzalez on Dec. 3, 2022. Hearn was the promoter.
Hearn also promoted Rodriguez’ first fight in AZ, a unanimous decision over Carlos Cuadras for that same WBC belt at Footprint in February 2022.
“it just makes sense to bring them back to Phoenix,’’ Hearn said. “The fans here know both, know them well. This a great fight town. There are a lot of educated fans here.’’
Fighters in boxing’s lightest weight classes have always been popular in Phoenix, home for Hall of Fame junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal, who drew capacity crowds to Footprint – then named America West when the arena first opened in 1992.
