Boxing
Lourdes Juarez vs Yesica Nery Plata Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter
Juarez vs. Nery Plata - only on DAZN - tonight
Over the summer, Yesica Nery Plata signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, further bolstering their roster of women’s boxers.
The former unified light flyweight world champion can have a splashy debut with MVP tonight and gain a title in the process by defeating WBC light flyweight world champ Lourdes Juarez at South Padre Island Convention Center in South Padre Island, Texas, and live on DAZN.
Nery Plata (30-2, 3 KOs) might have to overcome possible ring rust as she has not fought since her split-decision win over Sarah Bormann in December 2023. Meanwhile, the champ Juarez (38-4, 5 KOs) produced a ninth-round TKO of Mirna Sanchez this past March.
Will Juarez put a damper on Nery Plata’s MVP debut by defending her WBC title with a convincing win? Or will Nery Plata return to the ring after a 22-month absence to triumph as the new WBC light flyweight world champion?
DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both fighters ahead of tonight's title bout.
Lourdes Juarez’ Keys to Victory
Be nimble in movement
Lourdes Juarez’ attempt to defend her WBC light flyweight title against Yesica Nery Plata must begin with movement.
The champ should look to use head movement and positioning in and out of the pocket to pick her spots and pot-shot Nery Plata.
The more she could use this movement, the more she can land the kind of clean shots that register well on judges’ scorecards.
Turn up the volume
Against a measured, efficient fighter like Nery Plata, Juarez would be aided by turning up the punching volume.
Juarez can do this in and out of the pocket with high output toward banking rounds or trying to end the bout, altogether.
Be mindful of her guard
A weakness to her fight game that Juarez cannot afford to show tonight is her often lax guard.
While Juarez is looking to target her next punch, her hands are often by her waist. A seasoned fighter and former unified world champion like Nery Plata could potentially feast on this.
Juarez must do a better job at keeping and maintaining a regular, tight guard.
Yesica Nery Plata’s Keys to Victory
Be measured with movement
Watch Yesica Nery Plata and she is already measured in her movement, striding forward to cut the ring in half.
Lourdes Juarez will likely meet this pressure with forward-fighting pressure of her own to which Nery Plata must be even more measured and forceful with strong movement that can put the champ in a corner or up against the ropes.
Batter the body
Nery Plata bashes the body well and doing so effectively against Juarez could soften up the champ enough for the challenger to land something more devastating upstairs.
Nery Plata must make regular, consistent deposits to the body.
Let hands go
It is no secret that Juarez is going to turn the volume up with a high output of punches.
Whether in sequences or across the fight, Nery Plata might have to fight fire with fire.
This means, she must let hands go enough to ensure that judges credit her for rounds in the case this fight goes the distance.
It is her best shot of snatching the WBC light flyweight crown.
