New opponent for Estrada!

October 9, 2007

U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada was training for his first title fight as a pro on October 12 against NABO heavyweight champion Joshua Blocus at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Blocus, however, pulled out of the verbally agreed upon championship match and now the NABO No. 14-rated Estrada is matched Friday night against former NABC title-holder James Northey (11-1, 8 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature on “Clash of the Titans.”

From past experience Estrada (9-1, 1 KO) realizes that change of opponents is simply part of boxing, although he is disappointed not to be getting his first title shot. “I’m just going to take out my frustrations on the replacement,” he explained. “I was training for an NABO title fight and now it’s more like a stay busy fight, although I don’t take anybody lightly. Blocus made a decision not to take this fight against me. It’s his choice and I don’t really know why he’s not fighting me. Hey, he just dodged a bullet because I was going to take his belt. I’m just hoping my next fight will be for a title. I need some hardware; I’ve been working as hard as anybody and I need a belt.

“I was prepared to fight Blocus, studying tapes of his fight every day at the gym and home. We were picking up little mistakes he makes and working on a plan. Now, I won’t be able to study this guy (Northey), but he wasn’t training to fight me, either. I’m not worried. Not as much is on the line now as it would have been against Blocus, but I still have to win and look impressive so I can get more recognition and a title fight. I don’t know if Blocus didn’t want to fight me in my hometown, or what, but I know if I were champion, I wouldn’t risk getting stripped for not fighting somebody. Things like this happen in boxing and my mind set has already switched from Blocus to Northey.”

Jason, 26, was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record, also becoming the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. Highlights of his amateur career included representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics and capturing a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games.

“Both camps agreed 100-percent, not once but twice, to all terms,” Estrada’s promoter Jimmy Burchfield noted. “When Blocus didn’t send back a signed contract they stripped him of his NABO title. We offered to fight anybody else for the NABO championship but they had to go with the top two highest rated fighters available (Kali Meehan knocked out DaVarryl Williamson last Saturday night for the vacant NABO heavyweight title). We want Jason to fight for a belt as soon as possible and we won’t stop trying until it happens.”

Estrada-Northey will be taped live and air as part of the “Clash of the Titans” broadcast on Saturday night (Oct. 13), starting at 9:30 PM/ET on CN8, The Comcast Network as well as Cox Sports Television.

Tickets for “Clash of the Titans” are priced at $40.00, $45.00, (Bronze), $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and may be purchased by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), or any TicketMaster location. Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.