Shawn Estrada Books Ticket to Beijing
April 30, 2008 by Michael Sedor
Filed under MMA-UFC
Yesterday afternoon East Los Angeles middleweight Shawn Estrada became the ninth member of the American boxing team to qualify for the Olympic Games. He did it in determined fashion at the second American qualifiers in Guatemala City battling his Brazilian opponent Yamaguchi Florentine tooth and nail knowing that glory lay at the end of a positive four-round decision.
The match started tentatively with the two nervous fighters ably gaging each others strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the second the score was a sluggish 1-1. Then, with the flick of a switch the action picked up. The fighters traded blows and the third round ended with Estrada holding a precarious 7-6 lead.
When the final round began Estrada decided that he was going to the Olympics. His elusiveness amped, his accuracy honed, and his focus entered a zone. He outscored Florentine 5-1 in the championship round and jumped into sincere celebration. Print the ticket, start the plane, he’s going to China. Estrada will face Argentine Ezequiel Maderna for the tourney’s ceremonial gold medal.
Estrada’s super heavyweight teammate Michael Hunter II was not so fortunate. He lost his semifinal match 10-3 to Venezuelan Jose Payares. The 20-year-old Hunter was said to have been fighting illness during his stay in Guatemala City.
Hunter’s loss was especially heartbreaking since it marked his third loss in a match that would have sent him to the Olympic Games. In addition to yesterday’s match he dropped a 22-15 decision in the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships quarterfinals (top four went to Beijing) and a 9-1 final at the First Americas Qualifier (champion goes to Beijing). At the First Qualifier the super heavyweight class was the only division where only the champ made it; in all other weight classes both the first and second place finishers qualified.
We wish Michael the best and are sure he has a bright future ahead of him. It might not be too long before he mimics and the eclipses his father’s boxing successes – he fought Brian Nielsen for the IBC heavyweight title in 1996 – and fights AND WINS! a belt of his own.
Photo: Newscom
I for one take great pride in him, because he is my nephew…As and individual Shawn Estrada
is a very determined person, to show such intense dedication, and to pursue his dreams, regardless the competition, is an outstanding accomplishment! He deserve our pride in him, and our applause’s as he represents all Americans, in the 2008, Olympics this year!
Yojana, please tell your nephew that I am so proud of his (and the rest of the team’s) accomplishments. Shawn seems to have flown under the radar and has had less written about him than other team members even though he has triumphed in very crowded and very difficult middleweight division.
He has shown amazing determination and drive especially after his difficult and controversial loss(?) to the German at the World Championships, a match that would have sent him to China.
Shawn is now and will always be an Olympian! He has done an terrific job and has so much to be proud of. Thanks for writing and tell Shawn to keep training hard for Beijing. We just know he can bring home a medal!
Additional congratulations are due to Shawn Estrada as he won the gold medal at the Second Americas Olympic Qualifier in Guatemala City with a 4-1 decision over Argentine Ezequiel Maderna.
Great job Shawn!
Well yes, we are so very proud of Shawn, bringing home a Gold Medal after just qualifying his place in Beijing. He does deserve our additional congratulations and much more.
Though you are right, not enough coverage on him and not enough good pictures. I would like to see, better photo shots of him.
He is back home for a while before he goes back to training, and we are so proud to be able to spend some family time with him.
He is still in disbelief at times…I told him that, he is a great living example to all of us. He has proven to himself and our family that hard work and termination, and faith in God and in yourself…well, you can accomplish any thing…even bringing home the Gold!
He is already our “Olympian Champ” here at home and with the family.
Oh yes… he will be bringing back a medal from Beijing!
Thank you for noticing and mentioning such great things about Shawn in your article. God bless you!