PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (November 24, 2021) – Erika Cruz (13-1, 3 KOs) and Melissa Esquivel (12-1-1, 4 KOs) hosted their final press conference today ahead of their 10-round battle for Cruz’s WBA Featherweight Championship. The fight will take place this Friday, November 26 at the International Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico and will be streamed live globally on DAZN.

The event is presented by Matchroom and DAZN in association with Canelo Promotions and Clase y Talento.

Undercard fighters from the event were also present, including Angel Fierro (18-1, 14 KOs) and his opponent Cristian Bielma (18-3-1, 7 KOs). Fierro will be defending his NABO lightweight title against Bielma in a 10-round battle.

This is what today’s participants stated in their chat with Beto Durán, who hosted the press conference:

Erika Cruz, WBA Featherweight World Champion:

“I feel very good. Thank God first of all for allowing us to be here. I feel good. I’m happy because I’m going to make my first defense.”

“I want to thank Matchroom for giving me the opportunity. I earned this opportunity as a result of having won this title against Jelena Mrdjenovich. My life has changed by being here. Now I am a representative of this belt, and I came to defend it as the great featherweight champion that I am.”

“We are Mexican, and we always give everything in the ring. I know we are going to deliver a fight in which neither person will want to take a step back, but at the same time I came to defend my title. We are going to show what we are made of. We’ve come to show that we are warriors.”

Melissa Esquivel, World Title Challenger:

“I feel happy. Very cheerful. We know what this fight against Erika represents. I come with the mentality and all the desire in the world to be able to deliver a good fight and, God willing, take the belt.”

“It is very difficult to fight a champion. First of all, you have to have the level of a champion, because if you do not have the level of a champion, they will not give you the fight. So, it is very difficult. This training has been very strong. And it’s not just the training; psychologically, it represents something very important to me. I am ready for this and for even bigger things.”

Angel Fierro, NABO Lightweight Champion:

“It is going to be a war. Whenever two Mexicans get into the ring, it is a guaranteed war. I think it’s going to be a good fight. The winners will be the people who watch this fight. I look forward to a great performance this Friday between Cristian Bielma and me.”

“It is a dream come true. I have been working since I was five years old since my career as an amateur. And now being on this stage as a champion with Matchroom is very motivating. I am going to deliver a very good fight and show that I am ready to be a world champion. “

Cristian Bielma, Lightweight Contender:

“I started to follow him when scored the upset in Puerto Rico. Lightweight is my division, so logically I’ve been paying attention to the champions at this weight. He is a great fighter. I’m excited to fight him. I look forward to a great fight. We are very ready for this battle.”

“I’ve been in boxing for 11 years, so I’ve been looking for an opportunity like this for so long. And now the wait is over. Here is my chance. I am going to enjoy the process. I’m going to go all out in the ring.”

Erika Cruz Hernandez will defend her WBA World Featherweight title against Melissa Esquivel at the International Convention Center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Friday November 26, live worldwide on DAZN, the latest in the run of Matchroom and DAZN’s new series of fight nights in Mexico with Canelo Promotions and Clase y Talento.
 
Cruz (13-1 3 KOs) ripped the title from long-time champion Jelena Mrdienovich in April, with the Mexican ending the five-year rule of the Canadian on the cards after an accidental headclash halted the contest after seven rounds.
 
‘Dinimita’s’ first defense is her first fight under new promoter Eddie Hearn and is the first step on the 31 year old’s path to landing unification fights at 126lbs, with belt holders Amanda Serrano and Sarah Mahfoud on her radar should she deal with her compatriot on November 26.
 
“I’m really excited to defend my world title on my Matchroom debut in my home country,” said Cruz. “I want to put on a great performance and show the world I am the number one woman in the Featherweight division.”
 
Esquivel tastes World title action for the first time in her career and enters the biggest night of her career on the back of three wins, including her first over the ten round distance in April – and promises to pour everything she has into making Cruz’s title reign a short one.
 
“I am ready for this fight against Erika,” said Esquivel. “I have been training very hard, we set cam in Mexico City and now we are finalizing our training here in Sinaloa. We have been training for quite some time I am ready, well prepared for what is to come.
 
“Erika is a very strong fighter we know each other from the amateurs, I have a lot of respect for her and all she has accomplished, one thing I know for sure is that we are going to put on a great fight for the fans, I hope to be victorious that night, I have a lot to win. This is a great opportunity for my professional career. Come September 26, I will leave everything in the ring.”
 
Chief support on the night comes from Angel Fierro (18-1 14 KOs) as he too fights for the first time under new promoter Hearn, taking on Cristian Bielma (18-3-1 7 KOs) for the WBO NABO Lightweight title, with unbeaten Joselito Velazquez (13-0-1 9 KOs) and Gabriel Valenzuela (24-2-1 14 KOs) also in action, with more undercard fighters to be announced soon.
 
“What a packed weekend of action we’re going to have live on DAZN!” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Women’s boxing is on fire right now and World title fights rarely disappoint – and I think Erika and Melissa are going to serve up fireworks. Erika is a real talent and will want to show that in the first defense of her title, but Melissa is in her first title fight and has everything to gain in Puerto Vallarta.
 
“Angel Fierro is a fighter to watch at Lightweight and there’s a lot of gifted fighters on what promises to be an exciting bill in Mexico, the day before Teofimo Lopez defends his World titles in New York, it’s another unmissable weekend of action on DAZN.”
 
An announcement on tickets will be made soon.