By James Stillerman – For the first time in his professional boxing career, the 2004 U.S. Olympian, Jason “Big Six” Estrada 18-4, 5KOs is completely healthy and now he has his own promotional company, Big Six Entertainment looking after him, giving him a fresh start at making another run at becoming the best heavyweight pugilist in the world. Estrada`s journey to a world title fight continues on Friday night when he takes on the 1992 Puerto Rican Olympian, Alex Gonzales 20-6, 10KOs in a eight round main event bout, entitled “Takeover” at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
“I`ve been really hampered by injuries throughout my professional career especially my ankle and elbow and following my technical knockout loss to Franklin Lawrence, I decided it was time for me to get these medical issues taken care of,” said Estrada. “I feel amazing since these surgeries. I can finally lift, run and box without pain and I`ve have full power in my right hand. I feel stronger and quicker than I`ve ever felt before.”
Since having the surgery, the 31 year old orthodox boxer has garnered two impressive victories over Joseph Rabotte with an eight round unanimous decision and then in his last fight in March, he had a technical knockout of Dominque Alexander in the second round. Estrada who has been in the ring with WBA champion, Alexander Povetkin and two time world champion, Tomaz Adamek and who has defeated Lance Whitaker, Derek Bryant, Charles Shufford and Zuri Lawrence, looks to extend his winning streak to three bouts against Gonzales. Gonzales has been in the ring with former world challenger, Calvin Brock and former world champion, Vassiliy Jirov, both bouts he lost.
“I`m hoping for a big knockout victory over Gonzales; however if the knockout does not come, I`ll use my superior skills, experience and fighting knowledge to box my way to a victory,” said Estrada. “I`m really excited about Friday night and I`m extremely confident that I`ll prevail and continue to climb up the heavyweight division.”
The other key to Estrada`s success of late as been forming his own promotional company, Big Six Entertainment which has allowed him to have more control over his boxing career which he has not had since he turned professional.
“Before I started my own promotion company, my promoters never had my best interest at stake. They never really cared that I was injured or that I needed surgery because they were more interest in me fighting and making them money,” said Estrada. “Now with my own promotional company, I always know they`ll be looking out for my best interest. When I retire in another five years, I`ll have more time to spend with my promotional company and help make it even more successful than it is today and more importantly I`m going to work on helping my fighters both in and out of the ring.”
Estrada is hoping to have two more fights this year and would like one of those bouts to be against either Seth Mitchell or Bryant Jennings. However, if those fights don`t materialize, he`s willing to take on anyone in the heavyweight division.
“It has been extremely frustrating for me trying to obtain fights because no one is willing to fight me and the fights that I do obtain against good opponents, I`ve to go to their backyards and fight them,” said Estrada. “Nevertheless, if I get a couple more victories over significant fighters, I`ll be right there near the top ten and be fighting for a world title.”
Estrada, one of the most accomplished U.S. amateur fighters of all time and the only U.S. superheavyweight champion, which he accomplished at the 2003 Pan American games, believes he has everything in place now to duplicate his amateur success to the professional level and make it to the top of the heavyweight division.