Jason Estrada Interview: “Tell Tomasz Adamek not to worry about Christ Arreola, he has to fight me first, and I’m sending him back to the cruiserweight division!” By Benny Henderson Jr. (Jan 31, 2010) Doghouse Boxing
Former Olympian and now professional heavyweight hopeful Jason Estrada 16-2 (4) plans on bringing on the pressure and the pain when he steps in against the tough Polish fighter Tomasz Adamek 39-1 (27) February 6th for the IBF International heavyweight strap.
All though the American heavyweight has had two setbacks in his young career, Estrada has defeated the likes of Lance Whitaker (UD) and Moultrie Witherspoon (7th R. TKO), and plans on making Adamek his seventeen win, as well as sending Tomasz back to the cruiserweight division.
In this exclusive interview Jason Estrada candidly speaks out on his upcoming match-up, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: I appreciate you taking the time out to speak with Doghouse Boxing; I know you just got out of the gym, so my first question is how has your training been for your upcoming fight?
Jason Estrada: My training is going great; this is one of the best camps I have ever had because I had more time. I have never had eight and a half weeks to train for a fight. Everything has worked out good and went smooth.
BH: You are fighting Tomasz Adamek, former light heavyweight as well as cruiserweight champion who is now fighting with the big boys. Your thoughts on the match-up between you and Adamek?
JE: I just think of it as another boxing match, I don’t take anything away from him or what he has accomplished as a light heavyweight or a cruiserweight, and I just think I was the wrong fight for him to have as his real first heavyweight match-up. In my opinion Golota was one of the best European heavyweights in his prime, but you cannot consider Golota a test for Adamek, especially since Golota is way over the hill. Before Golota fought he had to have surgery and was pretty much talked into the fight, so I cannot call that fight a test, but this is a bad test for Adamek as his actual first heavyweight fight, not including Golota.
BH: I know there has been a circulation of rumors that Adamek may be fighting Chris Arreola in April, does that get under your skin knowing that these cats are seemingly over looking you?
JE: No, it doesn’t bother me at all, he is planning his career, saying he is going to do this after this and such, but nothing ever goes that way. People ask me what do you have planned if you win against Adamek; it is not if I win, it is after I win we will talk about it. I am not going to talk about anything about after this fight, that is what Adamek is doing, but I am focused on him. If he is not focused on me, and he is looking past me, which is like a slap in the face for the both of us, it doesn’t bother me, but it makes my job easier if he is focused on somebody else.
BH: In breaking down Adamek, what are his strengths that can pose a problem, and what weaknesses can you capitalize on?
JE: Honestly I always thought one of his strengths was his determination and aggressiveness, but how do you put pressure on somebody who is bigger than you? I am one of those guys who will go forward too, I have been told that I have to be one of the busiest heavyweights in the ring, averaging more punches in a round, but Adamek’s strength is his pressure, but how do you put pressure on somebody who can box? If I have to fight I will fight, if I have box I will box, I will do whatever it takes to win.
I also heard that Adamek said he will be faster than me, that to me is nuts, I am one of the faster heavyweights in the division. I have seen his fights at light heavyweight and cruiserweight, he wasn’t fast then, how in the hell are you going to be faster going up in weight. I hear that he is weight around 222-pounds, he didn’t look like he weighed that much when I seen him six and a half weeks ago, so I am trying to figure how much muscle did he put on and how was he able to do it in such a short matter of time, that makes me think, but I am not going to get into that.
BH: I read somewhere that Adamek stated that when he caught you, he was going to put you down, your thoughts in his bold prediction?
JE: I don’t know if he really thinks that or if he is just trying to sell the fight, we are both men and I have no problem with his bold statement, but he knocking me out is a whole different story, for him to land those shots he has to come in and get closer, then he has to feel what I’ve got, and I don’t think he will like that. I am trying to set up another fight with him and cruiserweight contender Steve Cunningham, they have talked about that rematch, so I am going to help Adamek out, I am going to bust that ass and send him back down to cruiserweight. That is my prediction, he can say that he is going to knock me out, plain and simple I am going to send him back down to cruiserweight.
BH: Your thoughts on the landscape of the heavyweight division?
JE: Unlike a lot of people, I think the heavyweight division is a good division, it is just so hard because people stuck out in the past, people like Tyson, Holyfield, Ali, Foreman, Frazier, people try to compare the fighters to them then and call the division trash, for the simple fact that we had these great fighters in the past. We have to use these great fighters in the past to build the division and not tear it down.
BH: If you could send a message out to Tomasz Adamek before this fight, what would it be?
JE: Be ready to fight, plain and simple, this is not what he is thinking, be ready to be surprised. I am telling you, I will capitalize on his mistakes.
BH: Anything in closing?
JE: It doesn’t really matter to me, I am telling you straight from the heart, be surprised and be ready because it is not going to be some game, Adamek, don’t worry about Chris Arreola, you have to fight me first, and that is going to be a problem.
