By Miguel Rivera
After nearly a year of not being able to get into the ring with a sprained right hand, WBA/WBO flyweight world champion Juan Francisco 'Gallo' Estrada finally received the green light to return to the gym.
And as a result, he think he might be back in the ring on a date in October or November.
The World Boxing Association recently ordered Estrada to take part in a mandatory fight against Japanese contender Kazuto Ioka, a very solid fighter who previously held world titles.
Should everything come through with Ioka, Estrada wants to get himself in position for big fight in 2017 - either a match against Philippines star Donnie Nietes or a rematch with Nicaraguan Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez, who beat Estrada by way of a close decision in 2012.
"Now at last we received the green light to start training, boxing, do sparring, and we're fine thank God. Right now what we are looking at the possibility of returning in October or November," Estrada said to ESPN Deportes.
Estrada (33-2, 24 KO) despite nearly 11 months of absence, is still listed among the top 10 pound for pound fighters in the world. He said patience was certainly the key to a full recovery.
"The doctor told me I had to put up with [the inactivity]. I do not despair. I was willing to wait an entire year if necessary, but I started to hit and everything feels right," he shared.
"If the mandatory fight comes - I have no problem. We will make the mandatory with Kazuto Ioka and if we win - we want Nietes or 'Chocolatito' next year. People want those fights and so do I. We'll see if they can happen."
