ESTRADA back in action

www.thesweetscience.com



2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada is back in action May 11 on “The Pride Is Back” card at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Estrada (8-1, 1 KO), fighting out of Providence, takes on heavyweight Robert Hawkins (21-7, 7 KOs), only five weeks after Jason pitched a shutout against veteran Zack Page (13-11-1), winning a six-round decision (60-54 three times) on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

Hawkins has beaten Boris Powell, Gary Bell, Robert Wiggins and the late Jerry Ballard, as well as been in against Oleg Maskaev, David Tua, Samuel Peter and Kevin Johnson.

“I don’t care who he’s fought,” Estrada said. “I just hope that he shows up. A lot of guys have pulled out of fights against me. I won’t believe I’m fighting him until I see him in the ring. I guess, in a way, it’s a compliment (opponents pulling out), but it’s difficult because I can’t work on one strategy. But I’ve been training hard and I’ll be ready May 11.

“I felt stronger and lighter in my last fight (career low of 239 pounds). I’m going to be fighting at 240 or lighter from now on. I fought six rounds and could have gone another six if I needed to. I’m confident now that I can be strong the entire fight, no matter if it’s six, eight, 10 or 12 rounds. I want to stay active. I’m more motivated fighting every 5-6 weeks compared to being out three months. I just have to be injury free to stay busy. My body feels great.”

Estrada-Hawkins is a six-round co-feature on “The Pride Is Back,” headlined by the return of “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. (26-4, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event against Ted Muller (19-10-2, 9 KOs).

Estrada, 26, has been friends with Manfredo for 10 years. They both workout of Manfredo’s Gym, which is owned by Peter’s father, Peter, Sr., in Pawtucket (RI).

“The only one missing is Matt (Godfrey),” Estrada explained. “We all started boxing together years ago as amateurs. (Godfrey is the No. 3 rated cruiserweight in the world). It’ll be nice someday to have all three of us fighting on the same card in a big show. I’ve known Peter since I walked into the gym when I was six. It’s going to be great fighting together again on May 11.

Estrada was one of the most celebrated amateur boxers in U.S. history, registering a remarkable 261-14 record in the United States, including an unprecedented three consecutive triumphs in the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge (2001-2003). He captured a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games and represented the U.S. in the 2004 Olympics.
—from release

Also on that card is my man, unbeaten cruiserweight Aaron Williams who is far and away America's best heavyweight (he'll be there someday) hope for the future imo. He just signed with CES, so he now has a promoter for the first time in his career, and he is electrifying. I hope this card is on TV as I want to see Estrada and Williams, both GREAT amateurs moreso then I do the main event.

I've heard good things of this Williams fella. ;)

I've given my take on him every chance I've gotten here. Had he gone to the Olympic Trials I bet his name would come up a lot more often, and couple that with the fact that he has not signed with a promoter, he would be a lot more well known imo because he is nothing short of one of the top tier prospects in all of boxing.

Not yet seen him fight,does he have KO power?

Not much 1 punch KO power but he does score them because he relentless, places his punches well and is really just overwhelming. Once he fills out his frame a bit, he might have some more but right now not so much. Here's a little write up I did in another thread a few days ago.


Really fast. Works well with both hands. Punches in high volume. Has good defense, he slips a punch like no heavyweight I've seen. And he can slip moving forward too, which is a huge asset. Switches between a low and high guard a lot.

He's got decent pop, I've seen him hurt people with 1 punch but never KO someone. He throws real straight and doesn't throw the same combo twice. Always varying it up Works good from the outside in. He had over 200 amateur fights and it shows. He just knows what to do in their. He knows what range to fight in, he never smothers anybody and he goes to the body a lot. REALLY someone to look out for.

Like Chazz, he's another guy who has an exceedingly high workrate for a heavy guy. But I think at 11 fights, he is better around the edges then Witherspoon.

Absolute manchild and I really really believe he has the potential to be something special. Watching him fight is like watching a welterweight, Paul Williams or somebody in terms of his offense fight, 6'2 I believe with a giant reach, and he knows how to slip a punch. Anybody can be unrelenting but he reacts to punches very well. I don't know what his plans are for his future and what division, he fought on the 18th as a cruiserweight, but he is going to be special and as a heavyweight imo.

And since I've written that he has been signed to CES and says he plans to continue at 200 lbs for a bit and win a title before moving to heavyweight by the time he's 24.

Damn I thought you were talking about Erik Estrada from CHiPs

I'm going to this fight... Jasons pretty good