Juan Francisco Estrada Wants Donnie Nietes, Eyes Chocolatito
Mar 21, 2016 • 11:47 PM ET
By Miguel Rivera
WBA/WBO flyweight world champion Francisco 'El Gallo' Estrada (33-2, 24KOs) has not seen any activity since September 2015, due to an injury to his right hand that required surgery, and he is very eager to get into the ring - but he will be required to wait until the second half of the year.
Estrada is hoping to return against undefeated WBO junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes (37-1-4, 21KOs) of the Philippines but that fight is far from confirmed.
"Since December, I have not trained. For already more than three months I've gone without doing anything and I'm really upset about it. My return could be in July or August with an opponent to be confirmed. Although it is being negotiated, at the moment it could be with Donnie Nietes," Estrada told Carlos Zoolbaran.
"The doctor 's order of December 28 indicated that approximately four to six months of recovery would be required. I have not trained nor can I use the hand to punch because in fact I still have some swelling."
Estrada had to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament and remove a cyst from his right hand (an injury lingering for the last three years), and the hand is inflamed and swollen.
"I decided to have surgery after last fight because up to 80 percent of my ability was being affected. And sometimes I fought through pain and after the fighting needed therapies," Estrada said.
After surgery and rehabilitation, Estrada is waiting and wants to be a hundred percent to have a successful passage.
On the other hand , boxing fans are expect to see Estrada go against the flyweight champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Nicaraguan Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez. Estrada said that he does not believe the fight will be carried out this year, and 2017 is more likely.
"I am very interested to fight against Gonzalez. I know that at the moment it is very difficult to do it because of the sum of money that Gonzalez is requesting to get into the ring, but I'm sure it will happen," Estrada said.
