By Gavin Macleod
08.03.04 – WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison successfully defended his title last night (March 6th) in front of a packed and very vocal Braehead Arena crowd. It was a fight which many felt would be fairly routine for Harrison as he was matched with little known Walter Estrada of Columbia, a stand-in opponent for the injured William Abelyan, but this proved not to be the case.
It was his first defence of the belt he is now in possession of for the second time after regaining it in a rematch with Manuel Medina last year, and he was looking to impress against a fighter who many believed was not worthy of his title shot. The challenger was quick to dismiss this talk proving he was a good opponent shortly after the first bell had sounded.
During the introductions Estrada seemed to be phased by the hostile reception he received, and even more so upon hearing the rapturous welcome that the champion was given in his hometown. But when all the bravado was over and done with and fight time approach the two adorned more focused expression as they prepared to wage war.
In round one Harrison looked to get the ball rolling by coming in behind his left jab and managed to get off a right hand followed by a right hook early on but neither connected cleanly or carried much power. Harrison was then warned for a low punch as he looked for Estrada’s body. The southpaw challenger then began to find his range and landed a solid straight left and right hook as Harrison soaked it up and tried to counter with a right. Near the end of the round the pair opened up briefly in a trade off which you could say was won by Estrada. Certainly as the round ended, Harrison’s eye’s shot daggers at his taller opponent who had just taken the first round.
Round two began in much the same way as Harrison again set out with the jab, but this time he was met with hard left’s and rights to head and body from Estrada who’s long, wide swings looked to carried there touted power. In particular a left hook to Harrison’s midsection did not go down at all kindly with the Scotsman. After a second trade took place nearing the end of the round the Columbian had a cut to his left eye that began to leak blood down his cheek. This did not prevent him from winning the round however as Harrison looked to have started off very slowly.
The third saw Estrada landing a thudding left uppercut on the inside as the crowd began to wonder why their man had still to get going. With more blood rolling down from Estrada’s cut he continued to land long and wide punches on the champion who was now looking to bully him to the ropes in the hope of being able to unload something of his own. Instead his most significant act of round three was a second warning from referee Gino Rodriguez to keep the punches up, as Estrada took time out in a neutral corner. By now Harrison was having problems closing the range and thoughts were drifting back to the night he lost his title to the veteran Manuel Medina. Harrison managed to half land some right hands of his own nearing the end of the round and had maybe just done enough to secure an even round.
Round four saw a more energised Harrison come out doubling and tripling up on the jab, but again he was met with a straight left and left hook from Estrada. Harrison then finally got going and forced back Estrada with a right hand counter. Estrada then slipped and this brought the crowd to their feet. As the action resumed Harrison set about putting together his combinations and, off the back off one, landed a right hand that sent his opponent down for a count of eight. Harrison could well have finished it but the bell intervened to Estrada’s relief.
The fifth proved to be the end for a very game challenger as Harrison tore into him, having noted success with a right hand that wobbles Estrada. The some ferocious work to the body dropped Estrada for a count of nine as he struggled to regain his legs. He looked unsteady as the referee waved them together again. To his credit though, in a last stand, Estrada traded with Harrison and met fire with fire. He came off second best however, as more body shots put him down and the fight was waved off by Mr Rodriguez, negating the need for the three judges at ringside Andre von Grootenbreul (BEL), Michael Pernick (USA) and Micky Vann (Eng).
Harrison will now look to get back in action, probably against William Abelyan, and presuming he comes through that fight will aim to entice one of the divisions big guns to a football stadium in Glasgow for a 40,000+ summer showdown.
Undercard report to follow shortly …