Juan Francisco Estrada; An Appreciation Thread.

This man has given us everything a fan could want in a fighter. He's a technical master, he's incredibly fun to watch and doesn't avoid a challenge. He has a great heart and is typically Mexican with his left hand. His résumé is insane, including:

Carlos Cuadras 2x
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai
'Tyson' Marquez
Giovanni Segura
Milan Melindo
Brian Viloria
Juan Carlos Sanchez

Some of those were great fights: Cuadras I & II, Rungvisai I, Chocolatito, Sanchez II, Marquez and Segura. What are your thoughts on the man who gives us so many fun fights?

 

The Marquez comparison is sound in areas, but there's quite a few differences between them, and IMO, advantages for Estrada.

Obviously JFE has said before that JMM is his inspiration and helps define his style, and you can definitely see it. He has a brilliant lead hand, it's abnormal. Excellent at teeing his man up with it, and can throw this weird, long, scythe-like left uppercut, often coming from behind a solid jab and able to be doubled up on with ease. Good level changes with both the lead uppercuts and hooks. He doesn't really have the right hand to back it up, though. He's far from one-handed, but he's definitely better with his left than right. Marquez was incredible with both.

Marquez was better at positioning his feet on defence, but he often get stuck when a guy didn't comply with him and walk him down, Estrada doesn't. His ring cutting is sublime, as his micromanaging, angled steps means he can set up his punches and pin someone on the ropes. He was much better at walking someone down than Marquez was. His head-movement seems to be a bit more flashy than Marquez's too.