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07/10/2005 Archived Entry: "David Estrada Reflects & Looks Forward Following Loss to Ayala"
David Estrada Reflects & Looks Forward Following Loss to Ayala
By Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGO, IL, July 10, 2005 – Middleweight boxer, David Estrada, is taking things easy, following a disappointing stoppage loss to undefeated rising prospect Elvin Ayala this past Friday at the Athletic Center in New Haven, Connecticut on National television.
At a record of seven wins—five by way of knockout—and four losses, Estrada is concerned and looking to turn things around when he returns to training. Thoughts of being relegated to “opponent status” bother him, as would most competitive people.
In an exclusive interview, David Estrada spoke openly about where he currently stands.
On disappointment with the outcome of his bout versus Elvin Ayala (who is currently 12-0-0, 5 KO's):
DAVID ESTRADA: I’m bummed out. My pride is hurt a little bit, because I’ve never been in a situation like that. I felt I could have continued but it was the referee’s discretion. Yes, I was a little wobbled, but it wasn’t such that I was receiving punishment. Mostly, it was all blocked punches. But, he landed one good shot that made my head go back, but just cause my head goes back, that doesn’t give him the right to stop the fight; it wasn’t like my legs were out or anything.
It’s depressing, but who likes to lose? I don’t like to lose. I’m sure you don’t like to lose.
On taking a break and resuming training:
DAVID ESTRADA: I figure I’ll just take a month off and relax, then go back to the drawing board.
I’ve had a lot of fights in a row. But I’m going to start my roadwork in about two weeks and stay away from the boxing gym for a month or so. I’ll be back in the gym in August. I’ll be doing my conditioning—my weight training and roadwork.
I’ve been training for a long, long time—since sparring with [Fernando] Vargas back in February—and it takes a toll. I’m going to take a break from boxing for a month. The world is not over.
When I come back, I’m going to start from scratch and start working on my weaknesses. I’m going to work on my craft and letting my hands go. My problem is I just have to do it. I’ve got to eat, live, sleep ‘Let my hands go.’
On Elvin’s punching power and what went wrong Friday night:
DAVID ESTRADA: He didn’t hit hard. But its not how hard they hit you, but it’s where they hit you. I’ve been in there with big punchers. I cannot be a big hitter, but if I hit you in the right spot, you’re going to go down—in the liver, if it’s in the stomach, behind the ear—there’s ‘sweet spots.’ It’s not how hard they hit you but where they hit you, it’s the right spot.
Honestly, it was illegal—it was on top of the head, in the back of the head—but I got right back up. He threw my equilibrium off a little.
I didn’t take a beating, absolutely not! My left eye was cut, but I didn’t take a beating. All the punches were blocked. He caught me with some shots; don’t get me wrong. There was a point where he [the ref] was going to stop it, but I stuck my hand out and said, ‘don’t stop it.’
Friday was not my night; he got started faster, he let his hands go, and I was not able to get my shots off. I startled him, but it wasn’t enough; I was able to get him to back off once, but he was getting low and moving and he fought a good fight. He studied me really good, he studied vidioes of me and I didn’t see any of him and it was his night.
I’m not making any excuses, even though he hit me below the belt four or five times and didn’t get called on it, he hit me behind the head. I’m too nice a guy like everyone says. Maybe I should be roughing these guys up, too.
But, he still beat me. He was the better man and he beat me. That’s what it comes down to. Afterwards, I gave him a hug and a kiss.
On improvements and changes that need to be made:
DAVID ESTRADA: I’ve got to work on my countering, letting my hands go, being a craftsman, throwing ‘punches in bunches.’
Why am I not doing that? That’s a good question. Everyone’s telling me, ‘Let your hands go.’ Once I can do that, there’s no stopping David Estrada. Until that, you’ll see the same outcome.
Life isn’t hard, we make it hard; you can do whatever you want to be, you just got to do it by not doing what you’re capable of doing. Everyone loves the money, everyone loves the women, everyone loves to be wined and dined—I love to be wined and dined!
I’m also not giving it my all. I’m half stepping. If you want to box, box. If you want to work, work. If you want to go to school, go to school. I just finished a semester of school.
But it’s a tough call, because I have to work, cause if I don’t work, I don’t get my bills paid. If I don’t get my bills paid, I will be knocking on your door, Juan, saying, ‘I need to live at your house!’
I’m just being told ‘you’re doing too many things [but]...I don’t want to work at McDonalds for $5 an hour, I don’t want to be borrowing money from people; I want to make my own money.
On his record suggesting that he might be an easy opponent:
DAVID ESTRADA: Just because I’m 7-4, I’m not going to let you walk over me; I’m going to make you work.
Closing Thoughts:
DAVID ESTRADA: However, no excuses! I’m not a man of excuses. He beat me.
That’s just the way the ball bounces. Sometimes it goes my way, sometimes it goes the other. Unfortunately [versus Ayala] it went the other way.
I’m doing all right. I’m still living; I’m still walking. I’m still the same person. I’m still lovable.
It ain’t over for ‘the Weezel,’ David Estrada.
