The long awaited showdown between America’s leading young heavyweight prospect, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, and Alexander Povetkin, 2004 Olympic gold medalist and the IBF’s No. 1 contender, will finally happen April 4 in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Estrada (15-1, 3 KOs) and Povetkin (16-0, 12 KOs) should have fought in the amateurs at the 2003 World Championships or a scheduled USA-Russia dual meet later that year. Estrada, however, as the No. 1 USA super heavyweight, had to fight in the Pan-American Games, where he captured gold in his Olympic qualifier. Meanwhile, at the same time, Povetkin won a gold medal at The World Championships. Team Russia pulled out of the aforementioned dual meet and a foot injury hampered Estrada’s training for the 2004 Olympics. He was eliminated prior to the medal rounds as Povetkin rolled to gold.
Povetkin has a mandated title shot this fall against IBF heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, if he gets past the lightning quick Estrada. “The fight’s on April 4 but Povetkin’s the April Fool,” Estrada said during a break from training at his Big Six Academy in Providence. “I really see this guy as just a big-name opponent. He has his gold medal but he’s been babied his entire career. They just put guys in front of him to fight. He’s making a big mistake taking this fight. I’m not dwelling on the past. The old stuff doesn’t matter to me; I’m focusing on the present. It doesn’t upset me that people are calling this a tune-up for him. If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn’t take him lightly, but they’re making a huge mistake if they’re taking me lightly.
“I think it will be easier fighting him today than in the amateurs because he had to box a little more back then. You don’t see him boxing now. He’s a sitting duck. This (pro boxing) is a whole different game, something I learned in my first fight and I’ve progressed from there. He’s got the same stuff. Our fight didn’t happen in the amateurs, so I’m focused on beating him as a pro. I can’t see how he took this fight. His people must be telling him I’m just fast, like (Eddie) Chambers or (Chris) Byrd, but I’m more aggressive and they weren’t. I’m not worried about going over there because, if I smash him and lose, everybody will see that. No way I’m going to lose; I’m either going to stop him, or I’ll deserve a win by decision. He can’t prepare for what I’m bringing.”
Estrada’s promoter, Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc.), worked tirelessly for several months to get Povetkin for Estrada. “I’ve never worked so hard to make a fight happen,” Burchfield explained. “I know how badly Jason wanted it. I have to compliment Povetkin’s people for taking it. The Estrada Unit doesn’t back-off from any opponent. They’ve talked about this fight for a long, long time. In 2008, Jason went from a youngster to a man, doing everything asked of him. For everything he’s done since he signed with CES, especially in 2008, this fight is a reward for all of his hard work. I believe Jason Estrada is a future world champion.”
Providence-native Estrada was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record in U.S. competition. He was the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row.
Estrada’s father/head trainer, Dr. Roland Estrada, believes the risk of fighting No. 1 ranked Povetkin is worth the reward for Jason. “It’s an opportunity we couldn’t turn down,” he remarked. “If we did it would take us 1 ½-2 years to fight somebody as highly ranked as Povetkin. Back in the amateurs, Povetkin was No. 1 in the East, and Jason was No. 1 in the West. It’s a fight that almost happened three times but didn’t. We’ve had this fight in the back of our minds ever since. He’s still a straight forward, combination puncher without exceptional speed or technique. As a pro, he’s probably become better because he faced adversity, down a few rounds against Eddie Chambers with his eye swelled up, but overcoming it to win. Other than that, though, he’s pretty much the same guy he was as an amateur.”
David promises to send Quigley packing to the UFC
English super-middleweight champion Paul David has delivered the verbal equivalent of a ground-and-pound on March 28 opponent Tony Quigley, assuring the Liverpool challenger that he’ll be free to fulfil his UFC dream after their 10-rounder at the Echo Arena.
“I heard Quigley’s looking to become a UFC fighter at some point – well I’m going to make sure this is his last boxing match on March 28,” states David. “I’ll put his lights out and then he can run along to the UFC and live his dream. Boxing ain’t his thing.”
Despite boasting impressive amateur credentials and a good-looking 12-1 pro record, Quigley holds no fear in the eyes of the teak-tough David. He’s seen it all before.
“He had a decent amateur record, but professional boxing is a different ball game,” explains David, 10-4 in his own career, with standout wins over Tyrone Wright, Andrew Lowe and Peter Haymer.
“I’m looking to get Quigley out of there before the sixth round. He won’t see the second half of this fight. It all depends on how he wants to get knocked out. If he wants to come hard at me, he’ll get banged out sharpish. If he decides to run and string it out, he might last a few rounds. Whatever happens, he’s done before the sixth.”
Labelled ‘cocky’ earlier this week by Quigley, Northampton’s David has rubbished the idea that he’s underestimating his March 28 challenger.
“I’m not underestimating him, I just know my ability and realise what’s in line for me after I knock Quigley out,” explains David. “I’ve trained the same for this fight as I would any other and I’m not looking to take any short cuts just because I know I’ll bang Quigley out. I’m not looking past him; I just know how good I am.
“I’ve got more charisma in the ring, more style and more toughness than him. I don’t see him being a problem.”
Even the daunting prospect of facing Quigley in his home city of Liverpool doesn’t shake David’s air of unbreakable confidence.
“It doesn’t really matter where the fight is,” says the 24-year-old. “I’ve fought all over the country as the away fighter. It means nothing to me. If anything, the home crowd will just spur Quigley on to get knocked out even quicker.”
One gets the impression tougher tests lie ahead – at least in the mind of David. In fact, he’s already got his sights set on a date with the winner of the March 28 main event between British champion Brian Magee and home favourite Tony Dodson.
“That’s the main fight I want now,” admits David. “Saying things and getting them are a different story though.
“Dodson’s a bottle job – he’s been ducking and diving me for ages. He was English champion before me and gave up the title rather than fight me. He sat on his title and strung it out for about a year before the Board finally stripped him. Dodson then fights two journeymen, one in Italy and one in Sheffield, and ends up with a British title shot.
“Magee’s a veteran. I fought him early on in my career in a six-rounder. Some people said I won, others said he won. If we boxed again, it wouldn’t even be close. I’d dominate him. I’ve improved so much since those days.”
Not fussed who he faces for the prestigious Lonsdale title, David expects Magee to hang on to his belt come March 28.
“I think Magee will just know a little too much for Dodson,” he says. “When the going gets tough, Magee will remain standing. Dodson will give it a go in front of his home fans, but after the third round he’ll be looking for a way out. That’s the way I see it.”
*** Paul David’s English title contest with Tony Quigley forms part of the undercard to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on March 28. Headlining the show will be local lad Tony Dodson’s attempt to win back his old British title from Brian Magee, as well as Ryan Rhodes’ British title defence against Anthony Small.
*** To purchase tickets to HAYEMAKER 6: ‘The Mersey Beatdown’ visit www.accliverpool.com or call 0844 8000 400.
Amarillo Boxing Night, Vaasa, 21.2.2009 – Victory for Juho Haapoja, loss for Pekka Eskelinen
It was a full packed house (750 spectators) at Vaasa when Caramelito Promotions built up its first ever international pro boxing card. The card contained two pro and two amateur fights. At professionals there were in the ring Caramelito Promotions´ own lightweight debutant Pekka “The Bodysnatcher” Eskelinen against Russian Vladislav Sagalarov (now 2 (1 KO) – 3 – 0). It was an unlucky start for Eskelinen´s career when he was KOed in the third round by Sagalarov´s left-right –combination.
In the main event the reigning Finnish national and Baltic Heavyweight champion Juho Haapoja (now 8 (6 KO) – 2 – 1) defended successfully his BBU Heavyweight title against Estonian Valery Semishkur. After probing first round Haapoja put Semishkur on his knee with two hard right hand strikes and only some moments after that Haapoja impressively backed Semishkur to the ropes forcing referee Erkki Meronen to stop the bout. It was the first title defense for Haapoja whose manager is Markku Pirinen from Steel Ring stable.
There is available to watch in youtube.com-webpage the whole weigh-in ceremony and a couple of interviews taken a day before the fights. To see the weigh-in, please visit at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js4nnmLUDyE. Also to check photos from the weigh-in and from the show, please visit at our gallery at http://caramelitopromotions.com/gallery.php?h=12 (click there either the weigh-in or the show).
Caramelito Promotions has already started the negotiations for the next show at Vaasa region. In all the stable will promote four shows during its first working year. Any date or place is not yet locked but at least some heavyweight and lightweight or light welterweight boxers will be on the cards.
Other boxing news: The Nordic betting company PAF has informed that they will start offering various pro boxing bouts to bet for already in the near future. PAF has informed that their list will contain both international top level pro boxing fights but also some regional fights from smaller cards especially at Northern Europe.