Juan Francisco Estrada


Juan Francisco Estrada Romero is a Mexican professional boxer. He is a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal super flyweight titles since 2019, and previously, the WBA and WBO flyweight titles between 2012 and 2015. He also challenged once for the WBA light flyweight title in 2012. As of October 2019, Estrada is ranked as the world's seventh best active boxer, pound for pound, by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and eighth by The Ring. He is also ranked as the world’s best active super flyweight by BoxRec and the TBRB.

Early life and amateur career

Estrada lost his parents at the age of 7. He was raised by his aunt, and picked up boxing when he was 9. At the age of 15, Estrada moved from his native Puerto Peñasco to Hermosillo to focus on his boxing career. As an amateur, Estrada compiled a 94-4 record.

Professional career

Early career

Estrada made his professional debut on August 30, 2008 at the age of 18. Estrada won his first regional belt 2 years later, in October 2010. He defeated Manuel Almendariz by TKO for the WBC Mundo Hispano super flyweight belt. Estrada suffered his first loss against Juan Carlos Sánchez, Jr. in May 2011. Sánchez stands at 5 ft 8, giving him a significant size advantage over most flyweights. Estrada traded knockdowns with Sánchez but he lost the 8-round bout by unanimous decision.

Campeón Azteca

Later that year, Estrada participated in the boxing reality show Campeón Azteca: Round 3 that took place between September to December 2011 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The show featured 16 super flyweight fighters competing in an elimination tournament. Estrada won his first fight by unanimous decision against fellow prospect Ivan Diaz. In his second fight in the tournament, Estrada stopped veteran Juan Carlos Tirado in the second round. Estrada won one more fight against Luis May to qualify to the competition's final.
In the competition's final bout, Estrada would face Sánchez Jr. once again. Estrada went down in the second round after a left straight from Sánchez. Later on, with both fighters trading punches in the final round, Sánchez was rocked by a left hook from Estrada. Estrada continued throwing combinations and eventually scored a knockdown over Sánchez. Sánchez attempted to get up but the referee waived the count, giving Estrada the win by TKO with 1:02 elapsed in the tenth and final round. Both Estrada and Sánchez would go on to become world champions.

Estrada vs. González

On November 17, 2012, Estrada moved down from his natural division to challenge WBA light flyweight champion Román González. This was Estrada's first fight outside his native Mexico. The 22 year old Estrada proved to be a tougher challenge than most anticipated, but he nevertheless lost a unanimous decision to the future number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter. González would later say that he was interested in a rematch against Estrada after one of his successful flyweight world title defenses.

Unified flyweight champion

Estrada vs. Viloria

On April 6, 2013, Estrada once again challenged for a world title, fighting Brian Viloria at the Cotai Arena in Macau, China, for the WBA and WBO Flyweight titles. Viloria had unified his titles against Hernán Márquez on the same event in which Gónzalez defeated Estrada. Estrada appeared to lose the early rounds against Viloria, but he would surge on the latter rounds, landing combinations that gave him the edge. Estrada won by split decision, thus becoming the new unified champion. Although, observers of the fight felt that the victory should have been ruled a unanimous decision in favor of Estrada.

Various defenses

In his first defense, he defeated number one ranked challenger and future champion Milan Melindo by unanimous decision. Melindo was knocked down in round 11, as Estrada cruised to a shutout win. Estrada would fight three times in 2014, scoring victories over Richie Mepranum, former champion Giovanni Segura, and Jobert Alvarez in a non-title fight. In 2015, he added two additional title defenses, against Rommel Asenjo and former champion Hernán Márquez. He then took a break from boxing to undergo surgery on his right hand. During Estrada's reign as a flyweight champion he became known for his refined technique and accurate punching.

Super flyweight

Following 3 and a half years as unified flyweight champion and five titles defenses, Estrada vacated his titles in September 2016 to campaign in the super flyweight division. Estrada said that he could no longer make the flyweight 112 lbs limit. After spending a year away from the ring, Estrada came back against gatekeeper Raymond Tabugon on October 2016 in his native Puerto Peñasco. Estrada won an easy unanimous decision.

Estrada vs. Cuadras

On June 2017, it was revealed that Estrada would face Carlos Cuadras. Following Srisaket Sor Rungvisai's unanimous decision win over Román González, Cuadras was the mandatory challenger for Sor Rungvisai, the World Boxing Council's champion. However, the WBC ordered a rematch between Sor Rungvisai and González in light of the controversy around the González-Sor Rungvisai decision. Cuadras then had to face Estrada, the next available ranked contender. The fight was scheduled for the Sor Rungvisai-González undercard on September 9, 2017 at Carson's StubHub Center.
On fight night, Cuadras seemed to gain the upper hand in the early rounds, switch-hitting and throwing and landing more punches. Nevertheless, Estrada was able to slowly impose his methodical style in the second half of the fight, even dropping Cuadras in round 11. Michael Buffer incorrectly announced "Carlos Estrada" as the winner of the fight, but after some confusion he corrected his mistake, giving Juan Francisco Estrada the win by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
43Win40–3 Dewayne BeamonTKO9, 0:51Aug 24, 2019 Centro de Usos Multiples, Hermosillo, MexicoRetained WBC, and The Ring super flyweight titles
42Win39–3 Srisaket Sor RungvisaiUD12Apr 26, 2019 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won WBC and The Ring super flyweight titles
41Win38–3 Victor MendezRTD8, 3:00Dec 8, 2018 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
40Win37–3 Felipe OrucutaUD12Sep 8, 2018 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
39Loss36–3 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai12Feb 24, 2018 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.For WBC and inaugural The Ring super flyweight titles
38Win36–2 Carlos CuadrasUD12Sep 9, 2017 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
37Win35–2 Anuar SalasTKO5, 2:05Mar 11, 2017Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.png" />
36Win34–2 Raymond TabugonUD10Oct 8, 2016
35Win33–2 Hernán MárquezTKO10, 1:26Sep 26, 2015Retained WBA, and WBO flyweight titles
34Win32–2 Rommel AsenjoTKO3, 0:43Mar 28, 2015Poliforum Zamna, Mérida, Mexico.png" />Retained WBA, and WBO flyweight titles
33Win31–2 Joebert AlvarezUD10Dec 6, 2014
32Win30–2 Giovani SeguraTKO11, 1:33Sep 6, 2014Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.png" />Retained WBA, and WBO flyweight titles
31Win29–2 Richie MepranumTKO10, 0:10Apr 26, 2014Retained WBA, and WBO flyweight titles
30Win28–2 Milan MelindoUD12Jul 27, 2013Venetian Resort, Macao.png" />Retained WBA, and WBO flyweight titles
29Win27–2 Brian ViloriaSD12Apr 6, 2013Won WBA and WBO flyweight titles
28Loss26–2 Román GonzálezUD12Nov 17, 2012Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S..png" />For WBA light flyweight title
27Win26–1 German MerazTKO9, 0:38Aug 24, 2012
26Win25–1 Ardin DialeKO2 Jun 23, 2012
25Win24–1 Jonathan Lecona RamosUD8Apr 14, 2012
24Win23–1 Juan Carlos Sánchez Jr.TKO10, 1:02Dec 17, 2011
23Win22–1 Luis MayUD8Dec 8, 2011
22Win21–1 Jose Alfredo TiradoTKO2, 2:38Nov 2, 2011
21Win20–1 Ivan DiazUD6Sep 16, 2011
20Win19–1 Manuel LugoTKO3, 1:18Jul 2, 2011
19Loss18–1 Juan Carlos Sánchez Jr.UD8May 14, 2011Los Mochis, Mexico.png" />
18Win18–0 Jorge CardenasKO2 Feb 18, 2011Navojoa, Mexico.png" />
17Win17–0 Jose Guadalupe MartinezUD6Dec 11, 2010Auditorio Municipal, Torreón, Mexico.png" />
16Win16–0 Manuel ArmendarizTKO2 Oct 2, 2010Puerto del Sol, Puerto Peñasco, Mexico.png" />Won vacant WBC Mundo Hispano super flyweight title
15Win15–0 Carlos RodriguezTKO2, 2:52Aug 7, 2010
14Win14–0 Francisco SotoUD10May 14, 2010Guasave, Mexico.png" />
13Win13–0 Jose TamayoKO3 Feb 20, 2010
12Win12–0 Marino MontielKO1, 2:08Dec 12, 2009Guaymas, Mexico.png" />
11Win11–0 Carlos JacoboKO5 Oct 16, 2009
10Win10–0 Felipe AcostaTKO3, 0:36Sep 4, 2009
9Win9–0 Javier MerazTKO2 Jul 31, 2009
8Win8–0 Eduardo GutierrezTKO5 May 23, 2009Huatabampo, Mexico.png" />
7Win7–0 Carlos LopezKO2 Apr 11, 2009
6Win6–0 Jorge RamirezKO6 Mar 29, 2009
5Win5–0 Roberto HernandezKO1 Mar 6, 2009
4Win4–0 Gregorio CortezTKO4 Jan 31, 2009Nogales, Mexico.png" />
3Win3–0 Vicente MaroquinRTD2, 3:00Dec 13, 2008San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico.png" />
2Win2–0 Daniel Contreras JrKO1 Nov 14, 2008Mazatlán, Mexico.png" />
1Win1–0 Sergio ChavezUD4Aug 30, 2008Expo Forum, Hermosillo, Mexico.png" />