(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)
Pound-for-pound dynamo Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (24-0, 9 KOs) will defend her unified WBC/WBA minimumweight world titles against Argentina’s former world champion Leonela Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) this Friday at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
“Everyone thinks they’re going to shock the world when they get in the ring me. But then, that bell rings and they see that my style is just different. I’m a different fighter.”
–Seniesa Estrada
In the 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, unbeaten Las Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) will take on Sacramento-born contender Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs).
Estrada-Yudica headlines a full card that will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed action includes the return of 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas (14-1, 12 KOs), who takes on Philadelphia’s Nahir Albright (15-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight showdown.
Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (9-0, 5 KOs) steps up in class against Panamanian contender Cesar Francis (12-1, 7 KOs) in a junior welterweight tilt scheduled for eight rounds, and hard-hitting Japanese southpaw Subaru Murata (4-0, 4 KOs)looks to extend his knockout streak in a six-round junior featherweight clash.
Also in scheduled eight-rounders are lightweight prospect and former Team USA amateur standout Charlie Sheehy (6-0, 4 KOs) and Cleveland-born light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. (7-0, 5 KOs).
Leonela Yudica on fighting Seniesa Estrada
“I’m positive that they have underestimated me. I have had a lot of fights, and I have a lot of experience. I defended my flyweight title 10 times. And while it is a great challenge to be going down in weight, I am ready and prepared to show that I have everything it takes to become world champion again.”
“I’m very happy to have this opportunity. It’s a great pleasure, as a native from San Juan, Argentina, to be able to present myself for the first time in Las Vegas so that everyone can get to know me for the first time. It’s a great opportunity, and I am ready for this.”
