Kapwa nakuha nina WBA at WBO champion Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada at Filipino challenger Rommel Asenjo ang timbang sa flyweight division kahapon kaya tuloy na ang kanilang bakbakan ngayon sa Poliforum Zamna sa Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
Buo ang kumpiyansa ni Estrada na magiging ikaanim na Pilipinong magiging biktima ng kanyang mga kamao si Asenjo ngunit pag-iingatan din nito ang pakikipagsagupa sa mas maliit na boksingero na tumanyag sa bansag na “Little Assassin”
“Asenjo is dangerous. A strong boxer who hits hard and is left handed, so we’ll be very careful from the beginning of the fight, but it’s a style that we know and we’ve trained well for,” sabi ni Estrada sa Fightnews.com.
Inamin naman ni Asenjo na idolo niya si Estrada na tumalo sa Pinoy boxers na sina Ardin Diale (KO2), Brian Viloria (SD 12), Milan Melindo (UD 12), Richie Mepranum (TKO 10) at Joebert Alvarez (UD 10) pero pipilitin niyang magwagi para sa sambayanang Pilipino.
“I am very happy to come to Mexico to fight with someone as iconic in the division as Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada. And in spite of the fact that I received the offer to fight just two weeks ago, I’ve been training since December for a fight that was originally scheduled in South Africa on March 21,” ani Asenjo.
“All of us who are in boxing and in the flyweight division who Estrada is. He’s a great champion, but in spite of that we have been well prepared,” dagdag ni Asenjo. “Estrada is my idol. I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to fight him and this is a good opportunity to test how good I am fighting against the best in the world.”
Sa laban, itinalaga ng WBO bilang referee si Puerto Rican José Rivera at judges na sina Puerto Rican Roberto Ramírez (PUR) at Amerikanong si Joe García (US) samantalang inilagay ng WBA bilang ikatlong judge si Puerto Rican Raúl Nieves at fight supervisor si Aurelio Fiengo ng Panama.
May kartada si Estrada na 31-2-0 (win-loss-draw) na may 22 pagwawagi sa knockouts samantalang si Asenjo ay may 26-3-0 (win-loss-draw) record na may 20 panalo sa knockouts.