Phoenix boxing card features two champs
It’s almost as if Eddie Hearn should open a Matchroom Boxing office in Phoenix with the number of big fights he’s brought to the area as chairman of Matchroom Sport, a company based in England.
Hearn was back in town Wednesday to promote “Crown Duel,” the euphemism for June 29’s main event at Footprint Center featuring two fighters from out of town — Sonora, Mexico native and WBC World Super Flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada and San Antonio’s Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
Hearn has taken a liking to Phoenix boxing crowds, who passionately follow and cheer on not only homegrown fighters but those from other places who have found success in the sport. It’s a reason why Hearn feels comfortable bringing two boxers in for the main event who are not from the state, but have a history of being well-received in the city.
Hearn also used good foresight in choosing to return to Phoenix. The following night, Mexico’s men’s national soccer team faces Ecuador in a Copa America group stage match at State Farm Stadium.
Many Mexican sports fans will be in town, and Hearn’s hope is that a few make their way to downtown Phoenix to watch several Mexican boxers in action in front of what is sure to be a largely Mexican and Mexican American crowd.
Hearn believes upwards of 10,000 fans could fill Footprint Center with what can often be a solid turnout in terms of ticket sales the week of the fight.
Both Estrada and Rodriguez were big hits with the crowd in separate Matchroom events. Estrada defeated
Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena on Dec. 3, 2022, a fight that went all 12 rounds. Rodriguez stopped a top contender, Sunny Edwards, to unify two flyweight title belts last December, also in Glendale.
The 34-year-old Estrada (44-3) hasn’t had a fight since that night on the west side.
“I’m happy to be back. Knowing there will be a lot of Mexicans here for the soccer game, and the last fight I had here was one of a lifetime and a Hall-of-Fame type of fight for me ... I feel like this will be a great fight,” Estrada said in Spanish.
Estrada, Rodriguez and Edwards are on the Matchroom card on June 29 in downtown Phoenix, the fourth time Matchroom and Hearn have brought their promotion to the area since early 2022. Back in February of that year, Rodriguez defeated Carlos Cuadras at Footprint Center for the WBC World Super Flyweight title, his first career major championship.
“For me to fight here as the main event was a huge opportunity, and I was very grateful for that,” Rodriguez said. “This place has a special place in my heart forever.”
Hearn had a stake in the first of three major fight cards in the Phoenix area this year alone. His fighter, John Ryder, was part of the main event in January against Golden Boy Promotions star Jaime Munguia, who just fought superstar Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas on May 4.
Danny Barrios, a Phoenix resident who is 15-0, has the biggest opportunity of his career to date when he faces Arturo Cardenas of Riverside, California, a rising star in the lighter weights. That fight is part of the Estrada-Rodriguez undercard.
“Boxing’s starting to get recognition. It’s getting big, and that’s what we need here in Arizona,” Barrios said.