Matchroom’s headlining fight on June 29th between Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse Rodriguez will be complemented by a flyweight bout between Sunny Edwards and Adrian Curiel; two fighters who had been world champions until recently. The two will be looking to move on from their last bouts which saw them lose their title as they look to re-establish their position against each other. The Matchroom-promoted card will take place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
British flyweight contender Sunny Edwards (20-1, 4 KO’s) and Mexican unified flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KO’s) battled last December at the Footprint Center as enemies, but will now serve as colleagues as they aim to win in their respective matches on the same night.
While Jesse Rodriguez will be moving up to super flyweight to face WBC champion Juan Francisco Estrada (44-3, 28 KO’s), Sunny Edwards will be matched with Mexican contender Adrian Curiel (24-5-1, 5 KO’s) who last fought at junior flyweight, but has experience fighting at 112 lbs having competed there several times prior to becoming the IBF junior flyweight champion last November.
While a fight between the two former world champions makes sense for both parties, their match does threaten to be a high-stakes affair with the credentials of both fighters likely resulting in the winner being catapulted to a position on the rankings that will turn them into suitable contenders.
Moreover, both fighters lost by stoppage during their last matches, indicating the fight is more than just a test of merit but also endurance with the same vulnerabilities they suffered the last time around threatening to rear its head and derail their careers further.
However, despite the risk attached in fighting each other, both fighters appear to be enthusiastic about their upcoming fight.
“I’m really excited to get the next chapter of my career underway,” Edwards told Matchroom. “Agreeing another deal with Matchroom which confirms my future here for the foreseeable future.
“With the belief I’ve got in me from the promotional team and the events I’ve been involved in, I know I’m in the right place. Me vs Curiel is a hell of a fight. He is a former World Champion, like myself, and we’re both fighting to get back into World title contention.
“I’m going to Arizona again and fighting in front of an even bigger crowd this time, filled with passionate Mexican and American boxing fans. 29 June, I’m looking forward to being back.”
Adrian Curiel carried the same sentiment as Sunny Edwards, believing the gains outweighed the risks in regards to his upcoming match against the British former world champion.
“I have a brand-new opportunity for my career. When you lose, you learn, and I will prove it against Edwards on June 29,” Curiel stated. “If they want to make it 112lbs we will take it even though this is not my weight, all because I am thirsty for revenge. Viva Mexico!!”
The flyweight bout between Edwards and Curiel is set for a total of twelve rounds, indicating that both fighters seem quite willing to push themselves to the greatest extent possible despite having suffered stoppage losses during their last outings.
While becoming a genuine world title contender again is on the cards for the winner, the losing fighter will potentially see their odds of fighting for a world title heavily diminish depending on their performance. However, as boxing has proven, opportunities in the sport are not a matter of merit but politics, thus helping mitigate some of the dangers that lie ahead for the flyweight competitors.
