Super Flawless Win by Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada
By David A. Avila
CARSON, Ca.-Fans witnessed a near flawless performance by Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada over Mexico’s Anahi Torres on Saturday. There were no hiccups.
East L.A.’s Estrada (11-0) was not just “Superbad” but super accurate in dominating the former world title challenger Torres before several thousand fans at the StubHub Center. It was a light flyweight contest that was never in doubt.
It’s been an eye-opening year for the petite boxer whose pro career started very slowly. But the year 2017 has been anything but that. The 25-year-old had three fights in the span of three months after only six fights in five years.
She is catching up but has the speed to do it.
Talent has never been the problem for Estrada it was merely getting into the ring. Through no fault of hers it was difficult to find opponents and willing promoters. Most American female prizefighters face the same problem.
With the emergence of K2 Promotions as a boxing power in the U.S. the East L.A. fighter has found a promoter willing to stage her performances in a major arena. Three times she’s fought at the Inglewood Forum. This was her StubHub Center debut.
Torres (16-17-1) had fought multiple world champions including Argentina’s Yesica “La Tuti” Bopp another quicksilver boxer and the darling of her country. Though she lost to Bopp by unanimous decision, the Mexican boxer known as “La Pantera” did win one or two rounds according to judges in Argentina.
On Saturday night against Estrada, she was whitewashed.
Several thousand fans were in the stands in mid-afternoon when Estrada walked from the tunnel into the boxing ring to meet Torres. Many of those were her own. The East L.A. boxer has a large following and they attend her fights anywhere in Southern California.
The sound of the bell saw Estrada light into Torres with three-punch combos and stay just out of range for any return fire. It was a pattern she stuck to the next three rounds as well.
Torres, 28, had her own plans as well. She realized quickly that trying to match Estrada’s speed was a hopeless situation. After flailing at the wind the Mexican fighter began targeting the body and found some success. But that was solved quickly by Estrada whose mobility in the ring is pretty flawless now. A year ago the East L.A. fighter was still trying to find her identity in the boxing ring, she has definitely found it now.
Estrada soon found her perfect comfort zone and was able to connect with three-punch combos and take just the minimum amount of steps out of Torres reach. Around the fifth round Estrada began firing five and six-punch combinations just to make it interesting. That also allowed Torres to time the punches and return fire. The Mexican fighter must have been relieved that she finally connected. But the exchanges were still in Estrada’s favor.
Several rounds saw Estrada land pounding left hands that straightened up Torres in the last two rounds. It became apparent that Estrada was willing to take more risks to see if she could stop the Mexican veteran. She could not. Only one other fighter nine years ago was able to stop Torres and she has fought world champions like Mariana Juarez, Esmeralda Moreno and Arely Mucino.
Still, Estrada proved on Saturday afternoon that she belongs among the elite. She’s ready for world championship competition.
Anything less than a world title shot would be super bad.
(Photo by Al Applerose)