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Interview With Former
Olympian and Contender Jason Estrada |
By ROBERT JONES - FightNightNews Starr
Writer
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On September 23rd Jason Estrada will
be taking on 38-fight veteran Cliff
Couser. What's so important about
that? This will only be Estrada's
eighth professional fight. What
might be even more impressive is
that if he gets by Couser, his next
opponent will be 21-0-1 Travis
Walker. Talk about taking the fast
track. I was lucky enough to get to
talk to Estrada right after he just
finished up his training camp. Hear
what he had to say about his fast
start, his outstanding amateur
career, and the prospect of fighting
another former Olympic star,
Alexander Povetkin. |
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Robert Jones: You had a long
amateur career with over 300 fights.
When did you start fighting and at
what age did you know you wanted to
be a professional?
Jason Estrada: "My first
fight was when I was six years old.
I don't know when I decided I wanted
to be a professional. It was just
something that came natural."
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What do you have to say to
people who say you got bored
with your amateur career and
because of that you won't
have a successful pro
career?
JE: (laughs) "I never
heard that one, but, that's
completely false, it has
nothing to do with being
bored. I just had a bad
night. Things happen. You
can't win every fight."
RJ: Since you've
turned pro your weight has
stayed the same, but your
body has gotten more tone
looking. What are you doing
in the gym that's different
now then it was before? |
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JE: "As a
professional you have to
train harder because the
rounds are longer and the
fights are longer. It makes
you train harder, plus, I'm
older now."
RJ: I've read in a
previous interview you did
that since you had so many
amateur fights there is no
need for you to be fighting
bottom of the barrel pros.
How much longer do you think
it will be before you get
your first title shot?
JE: "That's a
question for my father
(Roland) and my promoter
(Jimmy Burchfield). They are
the ones who handle all
those types of situations.
For me, when ever they feel
I'm ready, I don't mind at
all. We can take those kinds
of fights whenever they feel
I'm ready."
RJ: You have yet to
lose a professional round in
your career, which is about
30 rounds. How much longer
do you think you can keep
that streak up?
JE: "As long as it
takes. I'm doing my job,
boxing the way I know how to
box and using the gift that
I have. That helps me to
easily win rounds. I take my
fights very seriously; no
matter who it is, I take it
seriously. I'm always
prepared, I've been prepared
for everyone of my pro
fights. All those things
help me to not even lose a
round. If I lose a round,
then I lose a round,
whatever. But that's a good
goal for me, to see how long
I can do that. You never
know when it can happen."
RJ: Some members of
the media are comparing your
career to 2004 Super
Heavyweight Olympic champion
Alexander Povetkin. You both
have gotten off to such a
fast start in your career
taking on seasoned veterans
well before even your 10th
professional fight. Do you
see you guys meeting in the
future?
JE: "That would
really be nice, no doubt.
When the time is right, when
the time is right for me. It
was a match up they talked
about so much in The Games.
Unfortunately, it didn't
happen. As a professional, I
think I'm better anyway. I'm
a better professional than I
was an amateur anyway. I'm
stronger, I'm smarter, I'm
more mature. All these
things come into effect when
you fight someone like
Povetkin, who has a good
amateur background and won a
gold medal in the Olympics.
I can't take anything away
from the guy, but, when the
time comes, I will be
ready."
RJ: Did you guys ever
fight in any tournament?
JE: "No, in fact I
had never heard of him until
a couple of months before
the Olympic Games."
RJ: If you get by
veteran Cliff Couser on the
29th of September you will
then take on 21-0-1 Travis
Walker. You beat him three
times as an amateur; do you
see it going any different
as a pro since he has a
little more pro experience
then you?
JE: "Let me beat this
Cliff Couser dude first and
then you can come back and
talk to me again and we can
talk about Travis Walker.
But, I don't expect anything
different. I've watched his
fights and I see nothing
that's any different in his
skills that could change the
outcome of that fight."
RJ: Since you've had
over 300 amateur fights and
you've gotten off to such a
fast start in the pro game,
at around what age do you
think you'll retire?
JE: "If everything
goes well, I can retire
pretty young. I can't say an
exact date because you never
want to jinx yourself, but,
hopefully I can retire young
and be financially stable
and healthy."
RJ: What are you some
of your interests outside of
the ring?
JE: "I used to play a
lot of basketball, but, in
recent years we don't have
much time for that. I like
to hang out with my son as
much as possible."
RJ: Thank you very
much for your time. Is there
anything you would like to
say to your fans and the
fans at FightNightNews.com?
JE: "I just want to
thank you for the post and
keep everything updated and
look out for me in 2007.
I'll get online and check it
out (the interview) and you
guys keep doing what you do
and I'll keep doing what I
do."
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