On March 4, Angel Fierrofacing Eduardo Estela will headline the latest installment of Matchroom Boxing’s popular fight night series, which will take place exclusively live on DAZN at the Polideportivo Arena in Culiacan, Mexico.
In what promises to be an explosive main event, Fierro (20-1-2, 16KOs) defends his WBO NABO Lightweight title against Estela (14-1, 9KOs), a former loser from Uruguay. The highly regarded WBO #5 Fierro is getting close to winning the 2023 World title, but first, he needs to defeat the extremely dangerous Estela, who just scored a career-high victory in November over previously undefeated Ruben Torres. Estela, whose promoter is former great Marcos Maidana, who will be present on fight night, has only lost once as a professional, in 2019 to rising Mexican powerhouse Mauricio Lara.
ANGEL FIERRO VS. EDUARDO ESTELA FIGHT DATE, START TIME
Date: Saturday, March 4
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. GMT
Main event ringwalks (approx): 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. GMT
The card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe.
The fight will take place at the Polideportivo Juan S. Millan, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
The main card is set to get underway at 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. GMT with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. GMT.
Fierro stated, “I am very happy to fight again in Mexico with my people.” I will demonstrate to them that I am prepared for a World title challenge and am looking forward to returning to the ring on March 4.
Estela declared, “March 4 is my time to shine.” I’m ready to put on yet another amazing performance after the biggest victory of my life. If I win against Fierro, I will be in the top tier of the 135-pound division, and he will not prevent me from doing so.
Although I am aware that I am entering hostile territory, this will only serve to motivate me further. I’m bringing everything I have, so Fierro better get ready.
At Super-Featherweight, Eduardo Nunez will fight Rodolfo Bustamante over ten rounds, providing the co-main event. The 25-year-old KO merchant known as “Sugar” Nunez enters the fight having won his only fight of 2022 in the tenth round in Culiacan in September. He is 23-1 with 23 knockouts. The Los Mochis man will be eager to continue his streak on March 4, but he faces tough competition from Bustamante (18-1-1, 11 KOs), who will fight for the first time in 2023 on his home turf.
Nunez stated, “I’m anxious, and we’ll prepare.” I’ve been putting in a lot of effort with my team, and I’m just waiting for March 4 to come around.
Bustamante stated, “I am very happy for this opportunity.” I’m coming with everything I’ve got, and I won’t let my Culiacan people down. I’m going to train hard.
Misael Rodriguez (12-0, 7 KOs), a 2016 Mexican Olympian, will compete against Rafael Ortiz over eight rounds at Middleweight. Criztec Balzaldua, a US #1-rated amateur, will make his professional debut against Alejandro Castillo over four rounds at Lightweight.
Rodriguez stated, “I feel happy and excited to fight on this great Matchroom card.” It’s great to fight in Culiacan, where I’ve fought twice and where people are familiar with boxing and have made me feel at home.
Matchroom south of the border had a breakout year in 2022, producing three unforgettable nights of boxing in the boxing-rich nation.
Hiroto Kyoguchi, the Japanese WBA Super Champion, defeated Mexico’s WBA Regular Champion Esteban Bermudez to defend his title in June. Rocky Hernandez, who defeated Jorge Castaneda, a highly regarded opponent, in the first round to become a breakout star, was also on that card. Mayerlin Rivas, the WBA 122-pound champion, made her long-awaited return on the card as well. She defeated Karina Fernandez spectacularly to keep her title.
Juan Francisco Estrada, the reigning Super-Flyweight King and pound-for-pound great, won a highly entertaining decision over fellow Mexican Argi Cortes in September when he returned to Hermosillo for the first time since 2019. The long-awaited trilogy with Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez for Estrada, which he won in December, was established by the victory over Cortes. In a rematch of their 2021 title fight, Mexico’s current WBA champion Erika Cruz defeated Jelena Mrdjevonich to defend her title. Sivenathi Nontshinga of South Africa defeated Mexico’s Hector Flores to win the vacant IBF 108lb title in an instant classic that is widely regarded as one of the greatest fights in Light-Flyweight history. The fight was nominated for and won the award for the 2022 Fight of the Year by a number of boxing publications.
The much-anticipated return of Mauricio Lara to Mexico City marked the end of Matchroom’s year in Mexico. The top-rated Featherweight contender appeared in his home city for the first time in more than two years, and he did not disappoint, brutally stopping former title challenger Jose Sanmartin within three rounds. It was a brutal defeat from arguably the sport’s most entertaining fighter, preparing him for his first World title fight against Leigh Wood, which will be broadcast live on DAZN on February 18 in Nottingham, England.
Eddie Hearn stated, “I cannot wait to return to Mexico for another great night.” In 2022, we had a wonderful year south of the border; All of our fight nights were exciting, and I anticipate that we will resume in March. If Fierro can deal with Estela in a stylish manner, he will knock on the door of Lightweight World title competition and join the big boys.”
ANGEL FIERRO VS. EDUARDO ESTELA FIGHT CARD
Angel Fierro vs. Eduardo Estela; Lightweight
Eduardo Nunez vs. Jesus Ceyca; Super featherweight
Misael Rodriguez vs. Aaron Guerrero; Middleweight
Yair Benjamin Gollardo-Lozano vs. Bernardo Jiminez Suarez; Super middleweight
Dilshodbek Ruzmetov vs. Jesus Moroyoqui; Light heavyweight
Criztec Bazaldua vs. Jose Armando Bustamante Islas; Lightweight
