Press Conference Notes: Super Bad
Estrada Primed to Defend World Titles in Las Vegas
Source: Press Release
July 27, 2023
(JULY 27) LAS VEGAS-- — Pound-for-pound dynamo Seniesa "Super Bad” Estrada
(24-0, 9 KOs) will defend her unified WBC/WBA minimumweight
world titles against Argentina's former world champion Leonela
Yudica (19-1-3, 1 KO) this Friday at Pearl Concert Theater at
Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images)
Video: Courtesy of Top Rank (published permission on Press
Release)
In the 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, unbeaten Las
Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes (19-0, 10 KOs) will take on
Sacramento-born contender Xavier Martinez (18-1, 12 KOs).
Estrada-Yudica headlines a full card that will stream live and
exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30
p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed action includes the return of 2016 U.S.
Olympian Karlos Balderas (14-1, 12 KOs), who takes on
Philadelphia's Nahir Albright (15-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round
lightweight showdown.
Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (9-0, 5 KOs) steps up in class
against Panamanian contender Cesar Francis (12-1, 7 KOs) in a
junior welterweight tilt scheduled for eight rounds, and
hard-hitting Japanese southpaw Subaru Murata (4-0, 4 KOs) looks
to extend his knockout streak in a six-round junior
featherweight clash.
Also in scheduled eight-rounders are lightweight prospect and
former Team USA amateur standout Charlie Sheehy (6-0, 4 KOs) and
Cleveland-born light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. (7-0, 5
KOs).
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $50 are on sale now at
Ticketmaster.com.
At Wednesday's press conference, this is what the fighters had
to say.
Seniesa Estrada
“This is just the beginning. We’re at a time in women’s boxing
where all the top women are starting to headline. So, I’m just
grateful and happy with Top Rank and ESPN for allowing me to be
one of the female fighters that is leading the way for the next
generation and for all the women in the sport.”
“I go into every fight wanting to make a statement. I always
want to show a different part of everything I can do in the
ring. I never overlook any opponent. I know that she has faced
tough champions before, and she is not afraid to take a risk and
fight champions. But my style is unlike any other champion she’s
faced.”
“Everyone thinks they’re going to shock the world when they get
in the ring me. But then, that bell rings and they see that my
style is just different. I’m a different fighter.”
Leonela Yudica
“I’m very happy to have this opportunity. It’s a great pleasure,
as a native from San Juan, Argentina, to be able to present
myself for the first time in Las Vegas so that everyone can get
to know me for the first time. It’s a great opportunity, and I
am ready for this.”
“I’m positive that they have underestimated me. I have had a lot
of fights, and I have a lot of experience. I defended my
flyweight title 10 times. And while it is a great challenge to
be going down in weight, I am ready and prepared to show that I
have everything it takes to become world champion again.”
Andres Cortes
“I’m very excited. I’d beat both of these guys [Martinez and
Nova] on the same night. I’m willing to knock out two guys in
the same week. I’m not worried about him [Martinez]. He’s in
here looking like a homeless man. This is easy work. I look good
and I feel good. And I can’t wait to smack this guy.”
“I run Vegas. This is my city. I think Martinez’s biggest
mistake was leaving {trainer} Ray Woods. He’s going to say that
this is his greatest camp. But he’s hunched back and he looks
scared. He’s afraid. And I can’t wait to put on a good
ass-whooping’.”
Xavier Martinez
“I’m really excited to come back. In my last fight, things
happened. But that’s life. It is what it is. But I’m bouncing
back. I had a great camp for this one. I’m excited to go out
there and do what I do. I’m ready to get back to where I need to
be.”
“Working with Robert Garcia has been great. This camp went a lot
better than the previous one. I had more time with him this time
because he was more focused with Anthony Joshua around the time
I had my first fight with him. This time, we were actually able
to work more.”
Abraham Nova
“‘My motto is, ‘No fear, no doubt.' You have to have no fear and
you have to keep moving forward. Robeisy Ramirez is a tough
fighter. A lot of things didn’t go my way in that fight. But
you’ve got to be mentally strong in this game. Confidence is the
biggest thing that will help us fighters move forward.”
“You will always see fireworks in my fights. I come to get the
knockout. Jonathan Romero is a tough opponent. He is a former
world champion. I’m excited about what I’m going to do Friday
night.”
Friday, July 28
ESPN+ (7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT)
Seniesa Estrada vs. Leonela Yudica, 10 rounds, Estrada's WBC &
WBA Minimumweight World Titles
Andres Cortes vs. Xavier Martinez, 10 rounds, Junior
Lightweights
Karlos Balderas vs. Nahir Albright, 8 rounds, Lightweights
Rohan Polanco vs. Cesar Francis, 8 rounds, Junior Welterweights
Abraham Nova vs. Jonathan Romero, 10 rounds, Junior Lightweights
Subaru Murata vs. Juan Centeno, 6 rounds, Junior Featherweights
Dante Benjamin Jr. vs. William Langston, 6 rounds, Light
Heavyweights
