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Bantamweight “franchise” champion Juan Francisco Estrada is set for a balance match against Argi Cortes Saturday in Mexico on DAZN.

JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA (42-3, 28 KOs)
WITH. ARGI PORT (23-2-2, 10 KO)

• Day: Saturday, September 3
• Time: 8pm ET / 5pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
• Where: Centro de Usos Multiples, Hermosillo, Mexico
• TV / Stream: DAZN
• Cost: $19.99 per month or $149.99 annually
• Assignment: Teen bantamweight (115 pounds)
• Circle: twelfth
• Under threat: No main title
• Ranking in British Pounds: Estrada number 9
• The odds: NA

• Also on the card: Erika Cruz vs. Jelena Mrdjenovich, featherweight (for Cruz’s WBA title); Hector Flores vs. Sivenathi Nontshinga, junior flyweight (for the vacant IBF title); Eduardo Hernandez vs. Jorge Mata, lightweight

• Guess: Estrada KO 5
• Story: Estrada, the “franchise” WBC champion, is returning to the ring after an 18-month hiatus for this bout ahead of a scheduled third game against rival Roman Gonzalez later this year. Estrada narrowly indicates “Chocolatito” in an entertaining classic brawl last March. They were scheduled to meet again this past March, but Estrada had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. The 32-year-old Mexican has only lost once since he was knocked out by Gonzalez in 2012, a decision close to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2018 that he avenged the following year. Hence his place on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list. The 27-year-old Mexican Cortes has not lost since consecutive defeats in 2014 and 2015 but he has never faced anyone close to Estrada’s level. That makes him a terrible underdog but also a question mark. We’ll see what he has. The card also features title matches Erika Cruz- Jelena Mrdjenovich and Hector Flores- Sivenathi Nontshinga.

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