Ringside With Raymundo 03.20.09: L.A.'s Next Olympic Son
Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 03.20.2009
This week, Raymundo tells as why Los Angeles has something to be excited about in Shawn Estrada, Castillo's latest dropping out, ESPN's first Heavyweight title fight and harsh words from Sakio Bika to Bernard Hopkins.
Super middleweight Shawn Estrada's professional career has been lightning quick.
So quick, that the East Los Angeles native has yet to record a full round. In his two fights, he's logged a total of 1:43 due to the rapid pace he sets from the moment the bell rings. He is currently 2-0 with two knockouts, and if he has his way, he'll record a third knockout, but probably not a third professional minute when he steps in against Ray Craig on March 27.
"I go for knockouts, cause I know that's what the fans like," said Estrada.
The East Los Angeles native gives the City of Angels another Olympic son to uphold, and although there aren't many comparisons to Oscar De La Hoya over than their location and the fact that DLH eventually fought his way up to the middleweight division, Estrada is the bright light in the Los Angeles area, and has a promising future head of him for the city to follow.
When mentioned in comparison to De La Hoya, Estrada is obliged but refers himself to more of a "pit bull than a golden boy." The 23 year old is an Olympian, undefeated as a professional, and is looking to reach the heights that DLH has in the ring and is knocking out every opponent put in front of him thus far.
Estrada represented in Team USA in the 2008 Bejiing Olympics in the opening round of Boxing, which was a lopsided victory on the Olympic scoring system at 10-2 over Argentina's Ezequiel Maderna.
Although Estrada would not medal in the Olympics and lose to eventual Gold medal winner James Degale, the bigger loss came when Estrada's ailing father passed away shortly after watching his son open the boxing tournament in Beijing.
The loss was devastating, but Estrada has pressed forward, and has said in interviews that he believes his father will always be in his corner when he fights.
"So much has changed in the past few years, but it's all inspirational to me. My life continues to flourish through my 2-year old daughter Alyssa and now my professional career. I'm looking forward to making 2009 memorable for my family, my fans and me. It's all about moving ahead and growing from my life's experiences."
Estrada turned professional shortly after the Olympics and made his debut at the new Citizen's Business Bank in Ontario, California on November 29. Estrada's debut was heavily promoted, with "Debut of US Olympian Shawn Estrada" proudly displayed on advertisements for the bout as well as on media packets.
I had heard of Estrada from his wide spread Olympic coverage, and was anticipating his debut in the ring that night. What followed was a drubbing of Lawrence Jones inside 1:00, in which Estrada stormed forward and landed a series of unanswered punches that downed Jones and gave Estrada a first career win, by way of knockout.
The Los Angeles native's next bout was scheduled for December 13 on the under card of the James Toney vs. Toney Oquendo bout, which was held under a makeshift canopy with roaring winds in the north corner of the Casino Morongo parking lot.
Alongside The Press Enterprise's David Avila and The Ring Magazine's new writer Doug Fischer, we witnessed a relentless Estrada run toward his opponent at the ring of the bell, and land a flurry of unanswered punches that forced his opponent, Shaun Spaid to cover up. Spaid was down on punches twice before referee Lou Moret mercifully called an end to the bout at a mere 43 seconds of the opening round.
Promoter Dan Goosen had Estrada on the fast track, and was planning to schedule the Olympian in bout every month, possibly even every three weeks. Estrada was happily obliged to the fast paced schedule he was to endure when talking to the press post-fight, yet would later suffer a right shoulder injury that brought that plan to a halt. His next scheduled bout, against Jeffrey Osborne Jr. to take place in Minnesota, was cancelled.
After initially announcing arthroscopic surgery to repair the shoulder, Estrada opted out, and planned to undergo courses of physical therapy to avoid the scalpel. Estrada has stated physical therapy has gone well, and his shoulder feels ok enough that it is upholding in one of his hardest training camps ever in preparation for his March 27 fight.
The location is his backyard of Los Angeles, at the Nokia Theatre's LA Live, a 7,000 plus seating venue that will host its first ever boxing match, which will be televised as part of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights".
Estrada's first bout in his hometown is the perfect opportunity for Los Angeles residents to cheer on their new Olympic son.
Castillo pulls out of fight, again
Jose Luis Castillo dropped out of his March 28 bout in Tijuana, Mexico against Antonio Diaz citing injury.
Castillo has pulled out of two of his last four bouts, the most recent a showdown with WBC champion Timothy Bradley last year. Castillo failed to make weight for the Bradley fight, as the champion went on to fight Edner Cherry and retain his belt.
Still featured on the Top Rank promoted card is son of Mexican boxing legend, Juilo Cesar Chavez Jr., Humberto Soto and Fernando Montiel, in separate bouts.
First ever Heavyweight title match on ESPN
The first ever live screening of a heavyweight title match on ESPN will take place this Saturday when WBC champion Vitaly Klitschko defends his title against challenger and former cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez. The southpaw hopes to upset the champion Klitscko, who is fresh off a dominating stoppage of Samuel Peter.
Bika calls out "The Executioner"
IBO super middleweight champion Sakio Bika has called out former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.
Bika is struggling to find an opponent, and is even being avoided in his native Australia.
"Sakio struggles in his home country where no one will fight him. We have challenged pretender Anthony Mundine who Sakio virtually chased out of the division and wants to know nothing about him. I have spoken to Golden Boy regarding a potential showdown between (either) Bernard Hopkins, Jeff Lacy or Librado Andrade, and no takers there, either," said Bika's promoter Jeff Wald.
Bika has thrown some verbal jabs at Hopkins as of late, but will the former champion bite?
"I read about Bernard calling out Joe Calzaghe who was retired. I say that Joe summed it up nicely in telling me and the media that I was his hardest hitting opponent he had faced. This has obviously spooked him, as he doesn't want to know nothing about me. I gave Joe more troubles than B-Hop so why not fight me? Are you scared? Instead of calling out a champ who has retired, take me on and you will join Joe in retirement."
