New WBA minimumweight women’s champion Seniesa Estrada explained she was proud to have the support of NBA superstar LeBron James.
James’ paid tribute to Estrada when she knocked out rival Miranda Adkins in just seven seconds back in July.
The 28-year-old American has since gone on to defeat Anabel Ortiz in March this year to claim the WBA title, and she spoke to DAZN’s Boxing Show about her career so far.
“It’s great to have LeBron’s support, I’m sponsored by his supplement company,” she began.
“It’s great to have that support and know that I’ll have his support in my next fights.”
Now that Estrada is with Golden Boy Promotions she believes the clout of a big name has allowed her to make more compelling and rewarding fights, when in the past she had little choice but to take what was offered.
“Before signing with Golden Boy I was fighting with girls way out of my weight class,” she said.
“Fights were like, ‘take it or leave it,’ and so I fought everybody no matter how big they were .
“When I signed with Golden Boy I was able to fight at my natural weight class and that gave me seven knockouts in a row. This fight with Anabel Ortiz was the first time people could see what I could do, because there was still criticism - ‘how good is she?’”
In light of Billy Joe Saunders’ recent failure to come out for the ninth round after suffering a fractured eye socket, Estrada claimed that she would keep fighting even if she was unable to see out of both eyes, and broke bones in both her hands.
“I’d continue to fight if both my eyes were shut closed, or both hands were broken. I’m not jinxing myself, I won’t take it back at all, because I know that’s the type of fighter I am,” she told Ak & Barak.