2 Nights in Las Vegas

Two Nights in Las Vegas

Photos by Al Applerose

Story by Uppercut Magazine staff

Las Vegas was glowing from the heat and star power it attracted with two back to back nights of boxing.

Seniesa Estrada opened up boxing with a unified world title defense against Argentina’s Leonela Yudica on Friday night. The next evening it was Terence Crawford clashing with Errol Spence Jr. for undisputed welterweight status.

Both Estrada and Crawford showed off their pound for pound credentials.

So far the year 2023 has been magical with most of the top stars willing and eager to match their skills with each other. And like always the city of Las Vegas attracted crowds of near 20,000 to witness elite boxing.

First, on Friday, tiny East L.A. fighter Estrada worked 10 furious rounds to keep her WBA and WBC minimumweight world titles from former flyweight world champion Leonela Yudica at the Palms Casino Resort.

Despite a size difference, Estrada managed to absorb big shots and simply out-punch and out-defend against the big shots coming from Yudica to win by majority decision. Now she seeks to face IBF minimumweight titlist Yokasta Valle who was in attendance and mocking Estrada’s small crowd.

A showdown seems imminent.

Crawford vs Spence

On Saturday, a long overdue showdown between undefeated welterweight titlists Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. finally erupted at the T-Mobile Arena. More than 19,000 fans saw Crawford finally prove after four years that he indeed is the best welterweight in the world.

Both champions met each other in the prize ring lefty to lefty and after a timid first round, the fight officially exploded into action with Crawford opening up with both barrels and eventually stopping Spence in the ninth round.

No doubt, Crawford is the best welterweight in the world and perhaps boxing’s best pound for pound fighter.