As we all know, it's the big bangers of the sport who get the most media attention, and as a result become the be all and end all to the general public. There are a damn sight more people out there who know of the exploits of someone like Anthony Joshua than a person like Juan Francisco Estrada or for that matter, Wasaksil Wangek. Yet both of these men are serious fighters. The latter, Thai, Wangek, after beating the wonderful Roman Gonzales on points, administered a cruel beating to Chocolatito when they met for the second time. Admittedly, the legendary champion was a light of other days, but the improvement in Wangek between those back to back fights was amazing.
This Saturday in the USA, Wangek, aka Srisaket Sor Rungvisai Nakornl, will defend his WBC World Super Flyweight Title against Mexico's Juan Francisco Estrada, a former WBA and WBO unified champion at Flyweight. Estrada was forced to give up those belts due to a serious hand injury that kept him out of the ring for over a year. All of his previous title fights have been at Fly, this time he steps up a division to challenge for Wangek's belt. The odd thing about this is that even though the challenger is moving up in weight, he's taller and has a longer reach that the champion who's fought almost all his career at Super Fly. But the champ has heavy hands. 82% of his wins have come by stoppage, something that few at the elite level in the low weights can match. Estrada has a great chin though. He's never been stopped. Should be a barn burner ... I hope.
