On Friday, February 29, 2008, Travis Walker became the only heavyweight prospect and now contender to defeat three other fellow prospects when he knocked out TJ Wilson at 1:51 of the second round on Showtime. Wilson was the former two time national amateur champion and two time Olympic alternate who owned wins over Joe Mesi, Calvin Brock, and Dominic Guinn in the amateurs. He had a record of 12-1 coming into the Walker fight..
Walker has also defeated Jason Estrada who was a three time amateur champion from 2001 to 2003, was gold medalist at the 2003 Pan-American Games and was the United States Super Heavyweight representative for the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was undefeated before the Walker fight and has been undefeated since the Walker fight.
In his amateur career, Jason Estrada defeated Da Varryl Williamson, Malik Scott, Donnell Holmes, and Malcolm Tann. Jason Estrada was also the 2000, 2001, and 2002 National PAL champion.
Travis Walker also has defeated George Garcia who was the number two rated amateur in the United States from 2000 through 2003. Garcia was undefeated at the time that he fought Walker.
The combined records of Estrada, Garcia, and Wilson at the time that they were beaten by Travis Walker was an impressive 29 wins and 1 loss. According to Walker’s manager, Stephen Munisteri of Houston who has managed heavyweight contenders such as Ike Ibeabuchi, Obed Sullivan, David Bostice, Robert Davis, Malcolm Tann, Raphael Butler, and Talmadge Griffis, among others, stated “no other heavyweight prospect or contender on the scene today in the United States has beaten three other top prospects in just a period of 16 months. We believe that Travis Walker is now head and shoulders above any of the other American prospects and should be at the front of the line of American heavyweight prospects to challenge for a world title. The only prospect that Kevin Johnson has beaten is Damian Wills. It should be noted that Mr. Wills was not a top amateur fighter and other than a built-up record really didn’t have any pedigree.
The only two prospects that Eddie Chambers has beaten are Dominic Guinn and he can’t really be considered a prospect anymore having 5 losses, and untested Derric Rossy. It should be noted that Rossy also didn’t win any national titles in the amateurs. He does have a win over Calvin Brock that was very close but failed his major test against Alexander Povetkin. Chazz Witherspoon has not defeated a single prospect who was a top rated amateur. He has beaten a bunch of has-beens and never-wases. Chris Arreola has not defeated three top prospects.
Arguably the only two prospects he has beaten are Malcolm Tann and Damian Wills. As noted earlier, Damian Wills was not a top prospect and now has two losses. Malcolm Tann suffered from a surgically repaired elbow at the time that he fought Arreola and already had two losses and now has four losses. It is clear that Travis Walker has fought the tougher competition and prevailed and is now ready to take on all comers.”
Travis Walker after his win over TJ Wilson is now setting his sights on WBC Champion Samuel Peter. Walker stated, “I am now the North American Boxing Federation Champion of the WBC. Historically, the NABF champions have gotten shots at world titles. After watching Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev I feel I am ready to take on Sam Peters right now. I am bigger, stronger, hit harder, and throw more punches. I also take a better shot. Rather than fighting Vitali Klitschko who hasn’t fought in 3 ½ years and will be 38 years old in a few months, Samuel Peter should show he is the best on the planet by fighting the best young American prospect and that prospect is me. I predict I will not only beat Sam Peters but I will knock him out. He has shown he does not take that good of a punch as he has been wobbled in each of his last 4 fights. Even James Toney wobbled him and everyone knows I hit a lot harder than Toney or McCline. I can’t wait to step up and reclaim the heavyweight title for an American.”
Travis Walker went on to say, “I have an NABF mandatory due against either Hashim Rahman or Chris Arreola if they choose to fight us. If I don’t get a world title fight I have already instructed my manager and promoter to try to make either a Rahman or an Arreola fight. If Chris Arreola wants to prove he is the better prospect then he needs to step in the ring with me. If Hashim Rahman wants to get his North American title back I am ready to give him that opportunity at any time. I am putting everybody on notice the Freight Train is back on track and rolling.”