By Jake Donovan

The run of great flyweight fights continues on Saturday night, as unified titlist Juan Francisco Estrada looks to extend his reign against resurrected former 108 lb. king Giovani Segura. The two collide in Mexico City, with the fight to air live on beIN Sports Español, quickly becoming every fight fan’s favorite network.

Estrada (26-2, 19KOs) made the boxing world stand up and take notice in his brave showing versus then-108 lb. titlist Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez. Their Nov. ’12 bout was a non-stop war and one of the best fights of the year – until the main event, when Brian Viloria outlasted Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez to unify two flyweight belts.

The two winners met up in their next fight, with Estrada outpointing Viloria in Macau, China to become the leading candidate to the lineal flyweight throne. That title is now in the firm grip of Gonzalez, who snatched the crown with a nine-round beatdown of Akira Yaegashi on the road in Tokyo, Japan.

Estrada is in a great position to create demand for a rematch, with two belts in tow as he rides a three-fight win streak. His most recent defense came this past April, stopping Richie Menaprum in 10 rounds for his second successful title defense.

Between his age (32) and complete disregard for defense, few figured that Segura (32-3-1, 28KOs) would still be hovering around the championship level. Flyweight was initially unkind to the former World junior flyweight champ, suffering a knockout loss to Viloria and then outpointed by Edgar Sosa last May.

Three straight wins have followed, the biggest coming in an unbelievable slugfest with Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez last November. Segura rallied for a literal last-second stoppage, earning the right for (at least) one more title shot, with a stay-busy 10th round stoppage win over Felipe Salguedo this past April filling the gap.

Can Segura once again turn back the clock, or at least defy father time? Will Estrada once again prove to be the most dangerous threat to the true flyweight throne and plead his case for a rematch with his last conqueror?

Read on to find out how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes tonight’s flyweight title fight plays out.

 

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: JUAN ESTRADA vs. GIOVANI SEGURA

Ryan Burton (Segura TKO11): “Never count out ‘El Guerrero Azteca.’ Segura finds a way to once again rise to the top.”

Jake Donovan (Estrada TKO9): “Segura is a live dog if there ever was one. Estrada looks like the second-best flyweight in the world, but his punch resistance isn’t the greatest. Gio has a puncher’s chance in any given fight, and at some point should find Estrada’s chin. It will be enough to threaten to win, but Estrada will find a way to ride out the worst moment’s and eventually batter the proud ex-champ into submission.”

Ernest Gabion (Segura TKO10): “Gio!”

Ryan Maquiñana (Estrada TKO9): “Much like Yaegashi-Gonzalez, this is another matchup that is expected to have fight fans buzzing for years after it's done. One could argue that Segura's southpaw stance could give Estrada some problems, but I think the defending titleholder gained valuable experience in his last defense against lefty Richie Mepranum. Then add Estrada's youth, and I see him winning the second slugfest-to-be in the flyweight division this weekend.”

Cliff Rold (Estrada Dec.): “Put a pair of proven Mexican warriors, both having won three in a row, in the ring with two titles on the line and the ingredients are there.  Estrada looked like the goods in a thrilling loss to Roman Gonzalez in 2012.  He proved it by besting Brian Viloria for the WBA and WBO Flyweight belts in 2013 and has defended twice, impressing both times.  Segura, the former lineal and unified Jr. Flyweight champion, rebounded from an exciting loss to Edgar Sosa last year to win three in a row by knockout, including a Fight of the Year contender over Tyson Marquez.  Estrada is younger and more technically sound but he's hittable and Segura still hits with the best of them.  This is back against the wall time for Segura and he's going to let it all hang out.  It won't be enough.  Estrada will survive some rocky moments for the last stoppage or clear decision.”

Reynaldo Sanchez (Estrada TKO8): “Estrada will be comfortable at this weight. Segura is a warrior, but I think it will be difficult for Giovanni Segura to defeat Estrada.”

Alexey Sukachev (Estrada UD): “The apex of Flyweight Wars, which will wreak havoc upon us in the coming week, and the second possibility for a FOTY candidate within two days. Segura had a better streak recently, but Estrada has a tendency to become bigger inf larger fights, and this fight is his greatest challenge since Brian Viloria or maybe even Roman Gonzalez. In a sophisticated rumble, Estrada will use his ring experience to land more and to prevent Segura from dealing too much damage by being lighter on his feet in this flyweight version of Shafikov vs. Nugaev.”

Anson Wainwright (Estrada TKO9): “You've got to love these all-Mexican duels. Estrada proved a couple of years ago against Roman Gonzalez that he can mix with the best, since then he's proved he can beat top drawer 112-pounders Brian Viloria and Milan Melindo. While Segura was a little terror at 108, he's not quite had the same impact since heading up to flyweight. I see Segura bringing his gunslinging style to this fight and Estrada picking him off and countering, there will be several vicious exchanges, Estrada will get the better of things and eventually catch up with Segura scoring the stoppage victory in a bloody thriller.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox