By Ken Hissner: At Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Saturday over DAZN, Fernando Beltran (Promociones Zanfer), Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy Promotions), and Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) presented a great card in the Main Event former two-division world champion Juan Francisco Estrada defeated Argi Cortes in an all Mexican event in his super flyweight defense.
In Co-Feature, WBA World Female Featherweight champion Erika “Dinamite” Cruz won the rematch over Jelena Mrdjenovich.
In the Main Event, former two-division WBA & WBC super flyweight world champion Juan Francisco Estrada, 43-3 (28), #114.6, of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MEX, Argi Cortes, 23-3-2 (10), #114.6, of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MEX, over 12 rounds.
In the first two rounds, Estrada used a jab with left hooks to the chin while Cortes countered well. In the third round, the action continued with the fans showing their delight with both boxers out of Mexico City. They had their share of fans. Cortes came back well with a left hook to the chin in the final minute.
In the fourth round, Cortes had a big win with right hand after right hand, sometimes three at a time to the chin of Estrada. In the fifth round, a war broke out, with both landing big shots to the head with little body punching.
In the sixth round, Cortes had Estrada in trouble in the final seconds of the round, driving him into the ropes at the bell. In the seventh round, a left to the body from Estrada dropped Cortes for an 8-count. He managed to get through the round but barely.
In the eighth and ninth rounds, Estrada continued putting pressure on a retreating Cortes with rights to the head. Estrada’s left hook dominated the round with occasional rights from Cortes in the tenth round.
In the eleventh round, Estrada used his left hooks while Cortes defended mostly with counter jabs and occasional rights. In the twelfth and final round, Estrada fought like the champion he is rocking Cortes with rights with little in return. Estrada tried for a knockout, and Cortes needed one to pull out the win.
Scores were 115-112 twice and 114-113. This writer 116-112.
In a rematch, WBA World Female Featherweight champion southpaw Erika “Dinamite” Cruz, 15-1 (3), #15 ¾, of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MEX, successfully defended her title, defeating Jelena Mrdjenovich, 41-12-2 (19), #125, of Edmonton, Alberta, CAN, over 10 x 2 rounds.
In the first round, Mrdjenovich came out throwing rights to the head of Cruz. Halfway through the round, Cruz landed a solid right hook to the chin to the roar of the crowd. In the second round, both were winging punches to the head.
In the third round, the slugfest continued going back and forth. Mrdjenovich was warned for hitting behind the head. In the fourth round, a left from Cruz caused swelling under the right eye of Mrdjenovich.
In the fifth and sixth rounds, both had their moments, with Cruz finishing the stronger of the two except the sixth when Mrdjenovich landed a big right to the chin. In the seventh round, Cruz got the best of the round in a close one.
In the eighth round, the action continued with Cruz rocking Mrjenovich with a right on the chin halfway through the round. In the ninth round, Mrjenovich seemed to take a close round.
In the tenth and final round, both were throwing bombs, with Mrjenovich grabbing Flores and taking her to the canvas. Mfjenovich is 3-0 in rematches but it looks like this one won’t be another one.
Scores were 100-90 by all judges and 98-92 for this writer.
WBC International Silver Super Featherweight champion Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez, 33-1 (30), #129 ½, of Mexico City, impressed in stopping Jorge “Kan” Mata, 15-1-2 (10), #129 ½, of Tonala, Jalisco, MEX, at 1:15 of the fifth round of a scheduled ten rounds.
Hernandez drove Mata all around the ring in the first round with body and headshots. In the final twenty seconds, a left from Hernandez to the head rocked Mata. Hernandez landed three rights to the head in the last seconds. In the second round, Mata came out, landing an overhand right to the head of Hernandez. Hernandez was in a firefight this round. In the final seconds, Mata rocked Hernandez with a left to the chin.
In the third round, swelling started appearing outside both eyes of Mata early in the round. Hernandez controlled the action. A jab from Mata snapped back the head of Hernandez halfway through the round.
In the fourth round, Hernandez would come in low with hands to his side, landing a vicious body attack. A minute remained, and it was Mata’s turn, landing four punches to the head of Hernandez.
In the fifth round, Hernandez came out with bad intentions to end it this round, driving Mata all over the ring, bringing blood from his nose near the end of the first minute, dropping Mata with a left to the body for an 8-count from Referee Francisco Laveaga. The referee finally called a halt as Mata was against the ropes, defenseless taking a left uppercut to the chin and knocking his head back as Referee Laveaga saw enough, calling a halt.
Flyweight Hector “Baby Bull” Flores Calixto, 20-1-4 (10), #107 ¾, of Tijuana, Baja California, lost a split decision to Sivenathi “Special One” Nontshinga, 11-0 (9), #107 ½, of Reeston, Eastern Cape, RSA, 12 rounds for the vacant IBF World Light Flyweight title a knockdown the difference.
In the first round, Flores hands high used an effective jab driving Nontshinga back the entire round. In the second round after a minute on the defense, Nontshinga landed a lead right on the chin, and down went Flores for an 8-count. He fought his way back the rest of the round well.
In the third round Flores went back to taking control until a minute remaining when Nontshinga landed a right, stopping Flores in his tracks and forcing a clinch. Flores came right back, taking the rest of the round. In the fourth round, it was all Flores with a vicious body attack having Nontshinga trying to hold. It was a big round for Flores.
In the fifth round, a clash of heads caused a cut on the forehead of Flores, causing blood into his eyes. Flores put the pressure n Nontshinga the rest of the round. In the sixth round Flores had Nontshinga close to quitting from the body attack.
In the seventh round, they went toe to toe, landing punch after punch in a full three minutes of slugging. In the eighth round, the action continued with both near exhaustion. In the ninth round, with heads butting, both never stopped throwing and landing punches. It was a battle of nutrition.
In the tenth round, the cut from the fifth round re-opened that had been kept in stopped well. In the eleventh round, Nontshinga came back well. In the eleventh round, Nontshinga was warned twice for holding as he is trying to fight back as Flores won it going away.
In the twelfth and final round, the left eye of Flores was closing while Nontshinga was warned twice for using his forearm and head. They were still punching at the bell.
Scores were 116-111 for Nontshinga, 115-112 for Flores and 114-113 for Nontshinga, and 114-113 from this writer for Flores.
Ring Announcer David Diamante