[Previous entry: "Munoz to defend vs. Ishihara"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Dibella Inks Brewer"]
03/03/2004 Archived Entry: "New England Chatta"
New England Chatta
By J.D. Vena
In case you hadn’t heard already, 23-year old, Jason Estrada of Providence, RI will represent the United States in the Olympics this summer in Athens, Greece as the team’s super-heavyweight. After dominating every American he had faced in the Olympic Trials with his trademark speed two weeks ago, Estrada bested Mike Wilson in Cleveland, OH for the second time in two weeks at the Box-Offs this past Friday.
“It’s definitely a relief,” said a content Estrada. “A lot is off my chesty. Making the team is one the hardest parts because you have to fight so many times within a few days. Fighting back to back days can take a lot out of a fighter.”
It took a lot out of his friend, Matt Godfrey, also of Providence, who had won his first two bouts in the Olympic Trials only to lose his final two matches, which were held back to back – four fights in five days. Godfrey’s second loss to Chazz Witherspoon, which ultimately eliminated him, was to a man he had defeated rather convincingly a few days earlier. Estrada was a little luckier because he didn’t lose the first time. Estrada defeated George Garcia on a Tuesday, Travis Walker on the next day and then Wilson on Friday of the Olympic Trials held two weeks ago.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like the challenge,” admitted Estrada. “By having (the trials) run this way, the best fighter from each weight class should be representing the team.”
Estrada will have a few months to prepare for the Olympics, which will begin in August. Estrada, who is a fulltime boxer and father of a six year old son named Lennox. A bit of a coincidence wouldn’t you think?
“Actually, I named my son after a neighbor of mine from Jamaica,” said Estrada. “He told me that the name means ‘strength’ and I just kind of fell in love with the name when my neighbor told me about his name.”
Should Estrada win an Olympic gold medal as many expect, then many will be falling in love with his name as well.
“I’m going to rest for a month or two and then go into training. I can’t wait for this.”
Neither can we.
If you need to be reminded why you should be heading to Foxwoods Casino Resort or tuning in to Showtime on Saturday night, then you may want to check On Demand on the Comcast Network. You gotta love Comcast. Not only do you not have to pay outrageous rental fees for DVDs any more, you can also catch up on your boxing, especially when you forgot to set the timer on your VCR. If you’re a Showtime subscriber, you can watch the memorable first bout of Joel Casamayor (30-1/ 19 KO’s) versus Diego “Chico” Corrales (37-2/ 31 KO’s) by clicking on the Sharmba Mitchell-Lovemore N’Dou fight which aired a few weeks ago. The replay is shown prior to the Mitchell-N’Dou fight.
When Casamayor and Corrales first met on Octobert 1st of last year, the same night James Toney decimated the legendary Evander Holyfield, the two jr. lightweights engaged in a drag-em-out struggle that saw both men on the deck (Corrales twice/ Casamayor once) and staggered a few times. In the memorable 4th round, Corrales, the former IBF jr. lightweight champion, hit the deck from a stiff left cross from Casamayor, which also nearly drove him across the ring. As he had shown in his losing effort against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. a few years back, Corrales was able to recover and drop Casamayor for the second time in his career. As Casamayor’s, devoted manager, Luis De Cubas admitted after the fight, it was the first time he had “ever seen (Casmayor) hurt.”
From that point on, the fight became very interesting because though it was clear Corrales could be hurt, it didn’t appear that Casamayor would be able to finish him off. Only a severe cut, which opened when another stiff left hand, drove into Corrales’ mouth, opened inside his mouth. Corrales seemed unfazed but the ringside physician that night saw fit to stop the bout awarding Casamayor a winner by TKO. Incidentally, many felt that Corrales was beginning to close his distance and rocked Casamayor at the end of the sixth and what would prove to be the final round. Though it was hard to question the stoppage in light of the danger of Corrales swallowing blood ala Meldrick Taylor, it was hard for some who would have gone on to win that bout if humanity didn’t come into play.
It was one of those fights you could watch over and over again, which the diligent VCR recording folk and Comcast subscribers have had the opportunity. On Saturday night, seeing it in person will be a reality for any willing to commute to Foxwoods in what should prove to be another fight you’ll be able to watch over and over again. In the co-feature, rejuvenated Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson (42-3/ 27 KO’s) will make the first defense of the WBO jr. bantamweight title he won last year when he faces veteran undefeated contender Luis Bolano (38-0/ 28 KO’s) of Cordoba, Colombia.
Johnson was thought to have been finished when he lost two bouts against then unknown Rafael Marquez. Marquez ended up becoming the best 118-pounder in the world and now Johnson is proving to be one of the best 115-pounders. Last August, Johnson upset Mexico’s Fernando Montiel over 12 rounds to capture his third belt in two weight classes.
Prmoter Rich Cappiello’s annual St. Patrick’s Day card which was to be held at the Roxy on March 13th, had to be rescheduled. The postponement had much to do with the fact that its headliner, Jeff “The Hellraza” Fraza of Haverhill, MA has been coming back from a nagging back injury. Fraza, the New England and Massachusetts jr. welterweight champion hasn’t fought since winning a technical decision over South Boston rival Kevin Watts, a fight that had to be stopped when Fraza suffered a nasty cut over his right eye from an accidental clash of heads.
“It’s been one thing after the other,” said a frustrated Fraza who is back training with “Irish” Micky Ward at the World Gym in Tewksbury, MA.
The card, which will new pit Fraza against Southie’s Jimmy LeBlanc, has been rescheduled for April 9th, same venue and will also feature exciting Dorchester heavyweight “Mad Dog” Mike Beverly against TBA and an interesting heavyweight match-up between Billy “The Kid” Mofford of Randolph and one-time cruiserweight prospect, Pepe Muniz of Quincy. Four other fights, which will include the likes of Tommy Attardo and Adam “The Bomb” Moses are also slated. For more information you can call 888-491-2900.
