Carlos Cuadras might be the most underappreciated little man in the world.
The former junior bantamweight titleholder has fought more-celebrated rivals on roughly even terms yet seems like an afterthought their names — Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai — are mentioned.
The athletic boxer-puncher from Mexico defeated the feared Sor Rungvisai by an eight-round technical decision – after Cuadras suffered a bad cut – to win his 115-pound title in 2014 and held it for close to 2½ years.
He lost the belt to Gonzalez, No. 1 on many pound-for-pound lists at the time, by a unanimous decision in 2016 but it was an entertaining give-and-take brawl that most observers thought was close.
Then came his fight with Estrada the following year at the then-StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., the same on which Sor Ringvisai stopped Gonzalez in their rematch.
Cuadras, using his quick feet and hands, moved in to land punches and out to avoid them effectively as he built a built a lead on the cards in the first half of the fight. However, Estrada, the better technician, adjusted to Cuadras’ style and took control of the fight midway.
The fight was ultimately decided when Estrada put Cuadras down with a straight fight. All three judges scored it 114-113, meaning the fight would’ve been a draw had Cuadras stayed on his feet.
Michael Buffer initially announced Cuadras as the winner, sparking a celebration in his corner, Buffer quickly corrected the mistake and declared Estrada the winner. The loser seemed bigger afterward.
“I won the fight, I landed the harder punches,” he said immediately afterward. “No way he beat me. The knockdown was a slip, I was never hurt. I want an immediate rematch.”
Cuadras (39-3-1, 27 KOs) has been angling for a rematch ever since and now he finally has one: He and Estrada are scheduled to do it again on a card also featured Roman Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Martinez in separate fights Friday in Mexico City.
Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) has emerged as a pound-for-pounder since the first meeting – he’s No. 10 on the Boxing Junkie list – and holds the same 115-pound belt Cuadras once wore. Meanwhile, Cuadras, who lost a majority decision to McWilliams Arroyo after the Estrada fight, slipped out of the public eye.
If Estrada wins and Gonzalez beats Israel Gonzalez, they are expected to meet in a rematch next year. Cuadras plans to spoil the party.
“This is the fight I have been waiting for,” said Cuadras, who is coming off three consecutive victories. “I am better prepared this time. I’m throwing a lot of punches in training. I’m throwing 12 rounds of sparring with three different guys. I’m doing a lot of mitt sessions.
“I think I’m going to arrive very fast and invincible and I’m going to give the Rooster his medicine. So, let the Rooster take care because I’m going to tear his head off. It’s going to be an honor to win The Ring Magazine and WBC belt as well.”
Cuadras, looking back on the first fight, acknowledged that Estrada rallied in the later rounds, although he still insists Buffer’s first announcement should’ve been the official one. He plans to pace himself better on Friday.
“He can be a slow starter, but once he is in a rhythm, he is harder to fight,” Cuadras said. “He’s good to the body and he has a good right hand. That’s the punch he put me down with in our first fight. I gave it my all in the first rounds, so I lost my energy for the second half. I went too hard from the start.
“He’s not going to get the rematch with Chocolatito. I am going to get my rematch with him.”
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