Jason Estrada: “I am Travis Walker’s first real test, and he is going to fail this test!”
 Interview conducted by Benny Henderson Jr - A.K.A "Big Dog" (Nov 16, 2006)
This Friday night November 17th live on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation two undefeated heavyweight prospects will collide when the former 2004 Olympian Jason Estrada 7-0 (1) squares off against hard-hitting Travis Walker 21-0-1 (17) in a battle of the unbeatens.
Although this will be the first time these two combatants meet as professionals they are no strangers when it comes to one another. Estrada has three win over Walker as an amateur and plans on tallying up a fourth this Friday night.
Estrada, who is one of the most celebrated amateur boxers in US history compiled a stellar career of 261-14 and earned a slew of awards including becoming the first fighter to win the US Nationals and the US Challenge three consecutive years (2001-03), the first US super heavyweight in history to win the Pan-American games (2003) but fell short in Olympic dreams losing out to Cuba’s Michel Nunez.
As a professional Estrada has defeated all in his pathway unanimously never losing a round thus far as a professional boxer, and come this Friday night Estrada plans on continuing his winning ways. The Doghouse caught up with the
undefeated prospect right after a heated sparring session and this is what he had to say on his upcoming fight, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: Since we spoke you had a win over Wheeler; give us your thoughts on that victory.
Jason Estrada: That fight was basically just somebody who got put in there at the last minute. I was scheduled to fight Cliff, but basically he made every excuse not to fight me so we had to put Wheeler in there.
BH: Now to the business at hand, tell the readers how your training has been for this upcoming match-up against Travis Walker.
JE: It has been great, I just got back from working my strength and conditioning coach, I was out there for a month and a week, so I am in great shape. I am back home and finishing up the rest with my father.
BH: What are your thoughts on Walker, I mean this guy has fifteen more fights than you as a professional but you have beaten him three times in the amateurs, what is your take on this one?
JE: I really don’t have a take on Travis, to me he is just another opponent in my way and course to be a champion, that is basically it. I don’t think about him much, I beat him three times but I am not taking him lightly at all. I am working so hard because this is a big moment for me, but he isn’t something that I focus on all the time, I think about him yes but he doesn’t scare me. I have heard that he said he is going to destroy me, but that is part of the fight game and that is why I am busting my ass to be ready for that.
BH: What do you see as his weakness that you can capitalize on and what strengths do you see giving you trouble?
JE: I see no threat, I know he is coming to fight but I don’t care what he is doing I am working harder than hell; I know what I have to do. He can be a tough guy but he hasn’t really changed from being an amateur, he is fighting all these guys, maybe two have winning records. One was Greeley and he got a draw again Jason Gavern. I beat Gavern three times, stopped him three times so that just proves my point right there, this is his first actual real test, and I feel he is going to fail this test because I am working really hard.
BH: Do you feel your long amateur background will play a positive role in this match-up?
JE: I am not sure, he has a nice little amateur background too; he has good experience but I am not focused on the amateur experience because this is the pros now, I am just using the gift that God gave me.
BH: Your thoughts on fighting on Showtime for the first time.
JE: I am looking forward to it and I am so happy to be getting this opportunity to showcase my talents in such a big way. When I fought on ESPN it was bad, I got a small cut and they stopped the fight and called it a ‘no contest’ against Diaz. He was getting ready to get crushed and he found a way to get out of it.
BH: If you could send out a message to Travis, what would it be?
JE: Just be ready to fight, all that talking and the coaches talking is nonsense. It is just going to be him and me in there but that can’t help you, they can talk all they want but who is getting in there. He has two hands and two feet as I have two hands and two feet so it is going to be a dog fight in there.
BH: Anything in closing?
JE: Tune in because it is going to be a great show, and just enjoy the new up and coming talent.
I would like to thank Bob Trieger of Full Court Press for setting up this interview, and a thank-you goes out to Roland for his help and to Jason for his time and thoughts. For more info on ‘Big Six’ please visit: www.jasonbigsix.com.
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