Heavyweight contender Jason Estrada shares his thoughts on his recent performance, a 4th round knockout of James Northey this past Friday, and his future plands. Check out what he had to say about about his loss to Travis Walker, his thought's on Ibragimov's win over Holyfield and more.
AC: You had a fight this past Friday against James Northey which you won by KO in the 4th round. How did you feel about that fight?
JE: It's just the way things worked out. The guy came out, he's a tough guy, and he sat there and fought and I got him. I finally got him and when people sit there and I catch them clean, most of the time, it's over and they aren't even going to get up. That's exactly what happened.
AC: It's been a pretty busy year for you. The last couple of years, you've fought four times. Are you looking to get in another fight before year's end?
JE: I would hope to get at least one more. I would like to fight more than four times a year. I'll be back in the gym some time here next week and I just fought Friday. I'm always ready to fight if I have to so I'm hoping to get another fight.
AC: I know at the end of last year, you fought a guy who you defeated back in the amateurs, Travis Walker. You lost a close majority decision in that fight. How did you feel coming off of your first loss as a professional?
JE: I just took it as a learning experience for me. Things didn't go right for me in that fight. Things didn't go right for me in training camp. I'm the type of person that, if I'm obligated to fight, unless I completely break something and it's impossible for me to fight, then I will. If I sprain or cut something, I'll just cover it up and fight just like that. I went in there with problems and I'm not making any excuses, but you see it was still a close fight. It was just a great learning experience and it just made me more hungry. After that, I went back to the gym and continued to work hard to win every fight outright.
AC: Is Travis Walker someone you'd like to see in the ring again?
JE: Most definitely. If I was to get a chance again, I would take the fight again. It would have to be on more equal ground. I'm not going to go under his promotion and he doesn't have to go under mine. It would have to be somewhere on neutral ground, not the west coast, where most of his fights have been. I thought I had to go in there and knock him out, which I wasn't able to do with the kind of problems I was going through.
AC: Are you looking to finish off this year with another fight and have four more fights next year? Keep it at four fights a year?
JE: I would like to fight six times a year. The way I fight, I try not to sustain much damage. I either box great or try to knock the guy out. The guys that have wars, their careers either finish short or they have to take a lot of time out for injuries. I'm just trying to stay busy and hopefully get six fights a year.
AC: When would you say you see yourself in there with a top 10 guy?
JE: As far as skill level, I'm already there. We just have to get on the same page as far as me and my promotion and stuff like that because I haven't ducked anyone. Every fighter I've fought is at least a .500 fighter. That's why I've moved as far as I have on the rankings. Some of these guys, like Travis Walker, are undefeated with a lot of fights, but he's maybe just like two numbers ahead of me in the rankings. It's all about who you've fought and I just want to keep on the same page of me fighting pretty good guys. I don't want to move too fast and I definitely don't want to move slow. I'm 26 and I'm ready to do what I have to do and get out of this game.
AC: I got you. Did you catch that Peter vs. Mcline fight and if so, what did you think?
JE: No, I didn't catch it, but I heard it was a pretty good fight. I heard Mcline kinda gave it to him. He had him out and he let him get away.
AC: Yeah, he let him get away. It was a good scrap.
JE: I'm trying to catch it. My dad TiVo'd it, but I've been busy getting ready for my own fights.
AC: Holyfield lost a unanimous decision to Ibragimov. Do you feel it's time for Holyfield to hang them up?
JE: I really can't even say anything about Holyfield. You know, Holyfield's career had started by proving the boxing world wrong. People have said he's slow and he comes back and wins another big fight and wins the heavyweight championship again. They said he had heart problems and he comes back and wins the heavyweight championship again. They said he was too light to be a heavyweight and he wins the championship. This guy keeps bouncing back, more blessings to him, so if he feels he can continue and not obtain any serious injury, then more power to him. George Foreman did it. Larry Holmes was doing it for a while. He wasn't looking as good physique-wise, but he was beating guys that were supposed to be killing him because he's old. The way I look at it, more power to him. As far as myself; I would never be in the game that long. This sport is not an old man's sport.
AC: How long do you see yourself in the sport for?
JE: Hopefully everything works out right. I want to be out of the game by 32 or 33. I don't want to be an old guy trying to box, having to live fight to fight. I want to build my money and support my family and relax. I've been doing this for 20 years already. My first fight was when I was six. The way I train my body, it's crazy. I'm hoping everything continues to go pretty good, or better, and I can retire from the game and take care of my family.
AC: Jason, is there anything you'd like to say to the fans in closing?
JE: Just stay tuned and keep reading on the websites and stay tuned for the next "Big Six" fight.
