According to Eddie Hearn, he is currently in the process of finalizing a deal that would see Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez challenge WBC super-flyweight champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada this summer. Hearn is eyeing June 29 as the potential date for this highly anticipated fight, strategically choosing a date that aligns with a major event taking place the following day.
The Copa America football tournament is scheduled to take place between June 20 and July 14 in the USA, with Mexico playing their final Group B match against Ecuador on Sunday, June 30 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Hearn hopes to attract fans in town for the football event to attend the Rodriguez-Estrada fight the night before.
Speaking on Matchroom’s YouTube channel, Hearn expressed his excitement for this potential matchup, highlighting the talent and potential excitement it could bring. With both Rodriguez and Estrada eager for the fight, Hearn believes it could be a strong contender for Fight of the Year.
Estrada, who last fought in December 2022 defeating Roman Gonzalez, had been in discussions to face WBA titlist Kazuto Ioka in a unification bout on December 31. However, those plans fell through, leading to Ioka facing and defeating Josber Perez in seven rounds instead.
Despite the inactivity, Hearn is confident that Estrada is prepared and ready for this upcoming challenge. While Estrada may not have had a recent fight, Hearn believes that his experience and readiness will ensure a competitive and exciting showdown against Rodriguez.