Fight Weekend Preview
Fulton and then an action-packed Wednesday in both the US and Italy. We get two more big-time cards this weekend, both in Las Vegas.
The weekend's action kicks off at the Palms Casino Resort. Women's Pound for Pound elite and unified minimum weight champion Seniesa Estrada puts her WBA and WBC belts on the line against former IBF Flyweight Leonela Paola Yudica,19-1-3 (1). Yudica was fighting out of weight class when she captured her IBF strap. Yudica was picked-off by Arely Mucino in a very close decision. She bounced back in April with a points victory over Tamara Elisabet Demarco in her native Argentina. Fighting at her more natural weight, she should be a solid test for Estrada, who has looked unbeatable in compiling a 24-0 (9). Estrada last fought in March and shut out Tina Rupprecht.
The co-main event features an intriguing 130-pound matchup between Andre Cortes, 19-0 (10), takes on the biggest fight of his career as he battles Xavier Martinez, 18-1 (12), in a must-win fight for Martinez who suffered the first loss of his career in January of 2022 to Robson Conceicao. He bounced back nicely and beat Alejandro "Pork Chop" Guerrero last August. A win here propels Martinez straight into the world title picture, while a loss throws him into irrelevancy.
The card also features Abraham Nova in a must-win fight, as well as Carlos Balderas, Dante Benjamin, and Subaru Murata in a very busy Friday night card.
The action moves to the T-Mobile Arena for the big fight. Undefeated 28-0 (22), Dallas, Texas, native Errol Spence puts his WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles on the line against WBO champ and Omaha, Nebraska native Terence Crawford 39-0 (30). Crawford is 7-0 (7) since making the jump from 140 to 147. He last fought in December and stopped David Avanesyan in six rounds. He looks to become the first ever to be undisputed in two weight classes in the four-belt era. Jermell Charlo will get the shot in two months as well. Spence hasn't fought since last April, about 15 months ago, and stopped Yordenis Ugas in 10 rounds. Spence will look to e the second current Texan to be undisputed, Houston native Jermell Charlo holds at the straps in the division north.
A loaded undercard features a future first-ballot hall of famer Nonito Donaire, 42-7 (28), who battles criminally underrated Mexican contender Alexandro Santiago, 27-3-5 (14), Santiago has run off three consecutive high-quality victories since his controversial defeat at the hands of Gary Antonio Russell including his most recent win was over Antonio Nieves last October.
In a highly intriguing and consequential lightweight bout Isaac Cruz, 24-2-1 (17), battles undefeated prospect Giovanni Cabrera 21-0 (7). Also, in action is Cuban, 154-pounder, Yoenis Tellez.
