Heavyweight contender Travis Walker 25W-0L-1D has agreed to fight his third fellow prospect in less than a year. Walker, who fought three-time National Amateur Champion, and Olympian, Jason Estrada, in November of 2006, and fellow undefeated prospect, George Garcia who was #2 in the amateurs in March of 2007, now has agreed to fight another top prospect and former amateur star T.J. Wilson on Shobox on October 19, 2007 in Sacramento, California..
T.J. Wilson is a former two-time National Amateur Champion and two-time National Olympic alternate. He was the 2000 Boxing USA National Champion at super heavyweight and was an Olympic alternate in 1996 and 2000. In 2000, he barely missed the Olympic team by losing to Calvin Brock in the finals by one point, 6-5. He had previously beaten Brock in the Olympic trials. Wilson has only lost once as a pro and that was in a fight where he was winning and dominating the fight against Willie Chapman until he got caught in the third round by a big punch. Chapman is known for doing this having defeated seven undefeated prospects in similar fashion including Davaryll Williamson who also was beating him every round but got caught in the last round and knocked out.
Munisteri Sports & Entertainment President Stephen Munisteri stated, “There is no other heavyweight prospect in the United States that has fought and beaten two former amateur stars. Garcia and Estrada were rated #1 and #2 for several years and both were undefeated coming into their fights with Walker. No other heavyweight prospect has defeated two undefeated fellow prospects who were rated this high in the amateurs, let alone doing so within six months of each other. Now Walker is topping this feat by fighting a third former National Amateur star and top prospect in T.J. Wilson. If he succeeds, as we expect him to do, he will be the only heavyweight contender who has beaten three fellow prospects within 11 months, all three of whom were top amateur stars. We believe a defeat of Wilson by Walker will establish Travis “The Freight Train” Walker as the premier heavyweight prospect and contender from the United States.”
Travis Walker commented, “I issued a challenge last week to Samuel Peter to allow me to step in for Oleg Maskaev and fight him for the Heavyweight Championship of the World on Showtime this weekend. I was very disappointed that Peter chose instead to retread one of the old heavyweights who has already lost eight times rather than to fight a young up and coming undefeated heavyweight. However, I was very excited and pleased to learn that Showtime will still give me an opportunity this month to demonstrate my skills by providing me the opportunity to fight another fellow prospect on Shobox on October 19. I am very anxious to establish myself as the premier American heavyweight. I am hopeful that once I dispose of T.J. Wilson that Samuel Peter, or one of the other champions, will give me an opportunity to fight for the title. I hope this will be my last fight against a fellow prospect and look forward to fighting against top five competition and the World Championship.”
Travis “The Freight Train” Walker is rated #5 by the NABF, #8 by the USBA, #9 by the NABO, and #35 in the world by the WBC. He is currently the IBA Continental America’s Champion and he will be defending the title against T.J. Wilson.