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11/08/2005 Archived Entry: "‘Weezel’ Watch: David Estrada is ‘All In’ for Poker and Boxing!"
‘Weezel’ Watch: David Estrada is ‘All In’ for Poker and Boxing!
By Juan C. Ayllon
David Estrada (left) in a poker tournament (Juan C. Ayllon photo)
You can’t lose what you don’t put in the middle. But, you can’t win much either.
--Matt Damon as Mike McDermott in the movie, Rounders (1998)
ROUND LAKE, IL – A week before his next scheduled bout, Chicago middleweight boxer, David “The Weezel” Estrada was engaged in a “Texas Hold ‘Em” tournament with a $150 buy in and a promise for winners to move onto a nationally televised contest. An avid online player, Estrada started off well, but was ultimately knocked out of the competition. Before he left, he made sure that he was on their mailing list, as he was determined to enter--and win--another tournament.
In a way, this game mirrors Estrada’s boxing career: showing promise, he has won some and lost a few others. At eight wins, four losses and six knockouts, he’s had setbacks, but is trying to mount a solid win streak and work his way up to major contention in the big leagues.
Chalking his poker losses up to experience, afterwards, he joined his best friend and this writer for steak tacos and an interview at a small Mexican restaurant across town.
How did you feel about your play in the poker tournament?
You know, it’s my first tournament and we came out to play. Actually, it went great. Unfortunately, I got knocked out. That’s poker, you know: You win some, you lose some. There was a straight on the board, meaning there was a six, seven, eight, nine and 10 right on the board. But, I had an ace, kicker and a six, but there was a guy who had a jack, which was a little bit higher than me, ‘cause right after 10 comes the jack, and he beat me. So, anyway, I mean, it’s poker, you know.
You said that you’ve got a fight coming up this Saturday. Can you tell us about it?
I’m fighting a veteran by the name of Tyrone Mack, a journeyman. To be honest with you, this will actually be the first—I really don’t want to say a “bum”, but this will be the first—opponent that I actually had that was easy, cause you know all my fights…I was put in there pretty tough. You know, like this guy’s what? I believe [he’s] got four wins and 38 losses, but he’s dangerous. He’s got two hands like me and he’s coming in there for one thing and he’s got nothing to lose. And, he’s going to try to take me out, so, I’m going to be very cautious and do what I’m capable of doing.
It’s going to be six rounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at some coliseum. I don’t know what it’s called. But, it should be a good win for me and another “W” for me on the board, a winning streak.
Right now, I’m eight and four. With this win, I’ll be nine and four and build my record up and look for better and bigger things.
What have you been doing to get ready for this fight?
Estrada (left) and Gould mix it up in Estrada's last fight (Jorge Bravo photo)
To be honest with you, I’m already in shape. I fought about three weeks ago; October the 14th, I fought at the Cicero Stadium, you know against a guy who was pretty much at my level, Kenny Gould, and I won that fight. I was victorious, [and] stopped him in the third round with a body shot—well, with a flurry of shots—that was one of my punches that put him down. But, I still stayed in shape. I took two, three days off and I went back in the gym on Tuesday. Pretty much, I’ve been in the gym. I’m in shape, so it’s going to show.
Who have you been sparring with lately?
I’ve been sparring with a few people. I’ve been sparring with Rudy Cisneros, Will from Windy City Boxing Gym…
Dan Ruzika (left) and David (Juan C. Ayllon photo)
[His best friend, Dan Ruzicka, interrupts, deliberately coughing loudly]
DE: And, of course, I’ve got my best friend over here—he’s giving me that cough—Dan Ruzicka!
You said that he’s in the mixed martial arts?
Yes, he is. He’s into the UFC Ultimate Fighting Champion thing, but I’m not. I leave that to the big boys. I’m a small boy, so I’ll leave that for him!
You mentioned earlier that you’d been offered a fight against an undefeated opponent this Wednesday. What happened with that?
To be honest with you, it probably wasn’t right, and it was going to be at his back yard, and I felt if I was going to fight this undefeated prospect—you know, I believe he was 13 and oh with like eight knockouts or 10 knockouts—you know, I wanted to get taken care of. But, the fight fell through and we’ll meet again. I know his first name was Ishmail something, but he’s an undefeated fighter out of Baltimore. [Editor’s note: This was probably Ishmail Arvin of Baltimore, MD, whose record is 13-0-1, 6 KO’s, and includes a unanimous decision over tough Anthony Ivory in April 2004]
Assuming all goes well, what’s next?
Well, assuming all goes well, hopefully, I’ll be fighting again in December here at the Aragon, you know, on Dominic’s show, another televised fight on Telefutura.
Six of my professional fights have been on TV, so hopefully I can get back on TV again. So, hopefully, I’ll get to fight on Telefutura on Dominic’s show.
Who are the guys you’d like to fight most?
Right after this fight I definitely—I mean, I’m not a sore loser, but I definitely—want a rematch against Aundelen Sloan. I will definitely want a rematch against him. And, from there, I will definitely want a rematch against Alberto Mercedes and move on from there. You know, I would like to avenge my losses, but I want to move up. But I definitely—to be honest with you, and it’s personal—I definitely want a rematch against Aundelen Sloan ‘cause he did not beat me in that fight. I was completely robbed! That was a black eye in boxing. And, pretty much, it was all politics. But, I would definitely like a rematch and I will get a rematch, hopefully!
Are there any fighters in Chicago that you would like to take on?
You know what? It’s like I’ve always said: I will definitely fight anyone, and I repeat: I would fight anyone in Chicago if they called me out.
I have two people in mind that I definitely wouldn’t like to fight them, which is Donavan George and Miguel Hernandez. I would not fight them, but hey! If they were to call me out one day and say let’s do this for some big bucks, who knows? But, those are my main two party people that I wouldn’t fight. Anyone else, I’ll fight ‘em, absolutely! I mean, this is boxing; I’m here to fight. I have a pact with two people. But, you know, [if the] money’s right, we can talk it out and see what happens. As far as anyone in Chicago, I’ll fight anybody. If the fight is right, and the money’s right, definitely!
Would you venture into light heavyweight or super middleweight at all?
Dan and David dig into their carne asada tacos (Juan C. Ayllon photo)
Well, we’ll see what happens. Right now, I can make 160. You know, I’ve always stayed in great shape, I’m always in great shape, I don’t let myself go and I can make 160. I can even actually make 154, if I really wanted to! You know, I’m definitely not going to fight at ‘54 unless it’s a title shot or anything. But I feel comfortable at 160 and actually, this fight that I’m going to fight in Milwaukee is going to be the heaviest of my career. This guy is supposedly going to make 165 and I’m at 164 right now. This fight is scheduled to be at 165. So, this is going to be the heaviest of my career. So, in reality, this is super middleweight that I’m fighting.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Thank you, Juan Ayllon, and Cyber Boxing Zone. You ain’t seen the end of the “Weezel,” David Estrada. Right after this win on Saturday, I will be right back on in December, another TV fight. There’s still more of me. Don’t count me out.
You know, like I said, I’m better than what my record says, and I’m learning on the job. This is a rough sport and I’m just trying to get up there. I just want to be the best at what I do and hopefully I can move along and get bigger and better fights, more money, and move on from there.
We’ll just wait and see what happens right after Saturday’s fight out in Milwaukee, Wisconsin against Tyrone Mack.
[In addition] I would definitely like to thank two people.
Number one, I’ve definitely got to give a shout out to my personal trainers, Glen and Julie “Real Exercise,” out in Waukegan, Illinois. You can actually see them at www.realexercise.biz. They’re the one that actually got me to where I’m at today as far as strength and conditioning. I mean, just look at my body: I’m ripped like ripped fuel. They’re the one that got me in shape physically. Of course, [I’d like to thank] my chiropractor, Dr. David C. Smith of “Chiro-Systems,” out in Woodridge, Illinois. You know, I was all like a puzzle before I met him, and he put me all back in pieces together. I was all scattered all over the place. Thank you guys for putting me where I’m at today!
And, of course, [thanks also to] my coach, George Hernandez, out in Garfield Park!
Epilogue:
One thing for sure, in an era fraught with out of shape heavyweights and fighters showing up over their weight limit or under-prepared, David Estrada arrives in shape and ready to fight. Win, lose or draw, he is an entertaining, quality fighter. No doubt, this accounts in part for his numerous TV dates. Bottom line, he’s committed.
It’s fitting that, as Estrada pulled away from the Mexican restaurant, he rolled down his car window and said, “Make sure you include in your story that I’m ‘All in’ for gambling and boxing,” and, a day later, added, “Make sure you also include this in your story: David Estrada beat—no, make that BLEW OUT—his best friend, ‘Super Dan’ in John Madden 2006 Football!”
Estrada loves to compete. And win. You can bet that every time out, he’s “putting it all in the middle.” What more could you ask from a competitor?
David Estrada (left) and Juan C. Ayllon (Photo by Dan Ruzicka). All photos Copyrighted 2005.
