Matapos gumaling ang naoperahang kanang kamay, gusto ni WBA at WBO flyweight champion Francisco 'El Gallo' Estrada na idepensa ang kanyang mga titulo laban kay WBO junior flyweight champion Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes.
Kinumpirma ni Estrada na nagsimula na ang negosasyon para sa depensa niya kay Nietes sa huling bahagi ng taon at umaasa siyang makakaharap sa ibabaw ng lona ang madalas humamon sa kanya na Pinoy world champion.
Noon pang 2007 WBO titlist si Nietes at gustong iganti ni Estrada ang mga kababayan niyang tinalo ng Pinoy tulad nina ex-world champion Manuel Vargas, Mario Rodriguez, Ramon Garcia Hirales, Moises Fuentes, Sammy Gutierrez at Francisco Rodriguez Jr.
"Since December, I have not trained. For already more than three months I've gone without doing anything and I'm really upset about it,” sabi ni Estrada kay boxing writer Carlos Zoolbaran ng BoxingScene.com. “My return could be in July or August with an opponent to be confirmed. Although it is being negotiated, at the moment it could be with Donnie Nietes.”
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Aminado si Estrada na mahirap mabakante sa boxing, ngunit kailangan na niyang ipaopera ang kanang kamay na masakit nang isuntok sa mga nakaraang depensa ng kanyang WBA at WBO title.
Binansagan ding “Filipino executioner” si Estrada matapos talunin Sina OPBF flyweight titlist Ardin Diale, ang inagawan niya ng mga titulo na sina Brian Viloria, two-time world challenger Milan Melindo, three-time world title challenger Richie Mepranum, WBO NABO flyweight titlist Joebert Alvarez at dating WBO Oriental minimumweight champion Rommel Asenjo.
"The doctor 's order of December 28 indicated that approximately four to six months of recovery would be required. I have not trained nor can I use the hand to punch because in fact I still have some swelling," ani Estrada. "I decided to have surgery after last fight because up to 80 percent of my ability was being affected. And sometimes I fought through pain and after the fighting needed therapies."
Kung magtatagumpay sa depensa kay Nietes, gusto rin niyang labanan sa unification bout si pound-for-pound No. 1 boxer at WBC flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez ng Nicagaragua sa 2017.
"I am very interested to fight against Gonzalez. I know that at the moment it is very difficult to do it because of the sum of money that Gonzalez is requesting to get into the ring, but I'm sure it will happen," dagdag ni Estrada.
May rekord si Estrada na 33-2-0, tampok ang 24 TKO, samantalang si Nietes ay may kartang 37-1-4, kabilang ang 21 TKO. (Gilbert Espeña)
