Estrada Very Motivated To Eliminate Cuadras, Fight For WBC Title

By Steve Kim

As part of the highly anticipated 'SuperFly' card on September 9th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Juan Francisco Estrada faces his countryman Carlos Cuadras in a showdown of former world champions.

For Estrada, who was a unified champion at flyweight, it marks a milestone as he makes his first appearance on HBO.

"It's obviously a big opportunity for my career and I'm definitely going to take advantage of it," said Estrada (35-2, 25 KO's), through translator Juan Hernandez on Saturday afternoon where a media luncheon was staged for this event.

Cuadras is rated number two at super flyweight by the WBC and Estrada number three. After their March 18th battle, where Roman Gonzalez lost his title to Wisaksil Wangek (also known as Srisaket Sor Rungvisai) in a disputed decision, the WBC mandated an immediate rematch (which will also take place on September 9th at the StubHub Center as the main event) and ordered that the winner of Estrada-Cuadras will then fight for the WBC 115-pound title next.

So with that, Estrada will certainly be an interested observer of Gonzalez-Wangek.

"I'm opening the telecast so after my fight I'll get a chance to check out their fight. If for some reason I don't watch it there, I'll be reviewing the tape, [but] hopefully I'll be fighting the winner of that fight," said the 27-year old Mexican who once held the WBA and WBO flyweight titles.

Cuadras on March 18th struggled over ten rounds against David Carmona but Estrada is expecting a different fighter across from him on September 9th.

"He obviously didn't look that great in his fight with Carmona for some reason. Maybe he underestimated him or something but I expect nothing else but a 100-percent Cuadras for our fight because he knows the importance of it," he stated.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com