Miguel Estrada, an aspiring junior flyweight contender who found his way to Los Angeles to train with Marvin Somodio, is hoping the pairing leads him to the top of boxing.

Estrada, a member of Canada's national team in his amateur days, is trying to make a name for himself as an up-and-comer to watch in a division that often gets overlooked in the United States.

The 19-year-old Estrada, 2-0 (1 KO), turned pro in 2024 and has subsequently fought twice in Nicaragua. Now, Estrada, originally from London, Ontario, Canada, is in the Wild Card Boxing gym with some of the top young prospects in the lower weights, including such standouts as Steven Navarro and Andy Dominguez.

“His dad was contacting us, saying, 'Take a look at this guy,’ asking if we would like to train him,” Somodio told BoxingScene about how he was linked up with Estrada. “I said, ‘Send him over and we will see.’”

Although Estrada has no upcoming fight date, he has been a fixture in the gym, staying sharp by sparring others who are in camp. Last month, Navarro got his first win of 2025, stopping Juan Esteban Garcia. Dominguez is currently preparing for a fight on May 9 against Nelvis Rodriguez in New York City.

“It was tough work, but we did our best and got a good outcome,” Estrada told BoxingScene. “I get excited when I get hard sparring. I like boxing. I love boxing, so I get excited about this type of stuff.”

Estrada affectionately calls Somodio “one of the best coaches in the world” and says he has learned a great deal working with Navarro and Dominguez.

“They're great boxers, and I'm very appreciative of their support,” he said.

The way his division is shaping up, an eventual career leap may require a much more significant trip than even Ontario to L.A. The junior flyweight division’s influx of talent from East Asia and the greater interest and opportunity available for smaller fighters in Japan could woo him across the Pacific.

“Oh yeah,” Estrada said. “That would be a dream come true to fight over there.”

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.