A Triumph at Agua Caliente

April 15, 2010

David Estrada brings home the win

Boxing isn’t called a blood sport for nothing.

Proving that point was David “King David” Estrada who battered, bloodied and bruised his tough full-of-heart opponent Orlando Lora in last weekend’s main event at Agua Caliente Casino, Resort, Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and airing on ESPN Championship Boxing, the two gladiators gave the crowd their money’s worth with neither boxer letting up while Estrada hands were letting go as each round progressed.

This was to be a step up for the previously undefeated and younger Orlando Lora (26-1-1, 18 KOs), but the Mexican fighter from Culiacan, Sinaloa just couldn’t stop the barrage of punches unleashed by the bulldozing Estrada. “King David,” the pride of Chicago, went both upstairs and downstairs as Lora gamely fought on while absorbing tons of punishment.

Boxers often say they would rather be carried out on their shields rather than quit. Lora, the courageous challenger who trains at nearby Big Bear, must abide by this motto. As the near-capacity crowd witnessed the advanced reddening of his face, ears and torso, the steel-chinned welterweight refused to quit. He wouldn’t give up or give in. Finally, before the ninth round began, an RTD was called as the doctor and referee stopped the fight and to the relief of many in the audience, the carnage stopped.

After leaving The Show arena, the victor was cheered on by many supporters and fans impressed by his performance. Estrada took time to greet well-wishers and posed with fight fans gathered around the casino.

The Windy City native added one more victory to his ledger and returned home a new belt in the process, a WBC Fecombox title.

This victory, in a special-edition of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights,” puts Estrada (24-6, 15 KOs) back in boxing’s radar. After suffering defeats at the hands of better-known opponents Shane Mosley, Andre Berto, Kermit Cintron, Luis Carlos Abregu, Jesus Soto Karass, and Ishe Smith, the 31-year-old has proven he deserves to be given a chance among many of the elite pugilists.

Now back home after his Palm Springs triumph, I caught up with the former amateur standout and Golden Gloves champ. He was still relishing his convincing win while he looks ahead. He is hoping to get a rematch against Andre Berto (who stopped Carlos Quintana by TKO on the same night Estrada fought).

I asked Estrada, who also spends time residing in Miami, about his Lora’s toughness in their brawl, which became more one-sided as the minutes went by.

“Lora was very tough!” he admitted. “I did think it was a matter of time before he would go down, but I didn’t exactly know when.”

Was he ever hurt during the eight rounds of action? Estrada says, “He never hurt me during the fight–but did catch me with a couple good shots.”

David also says he hasn’t seen the Berto-Quintana bout yet, but then said that’s the one guy he’d love to face again.

“Yeah, I didn’t see the Berto-Quintana fight yet,” the slugger comments. “But I would like a rematch with Berto.”

“He has the belt that I’ve always wanted since I was a kid!” he says with a chuckle about the WBC green and gold strap that Berto owns.

While aiming for a rematch against Andre Berto, I inquire about another of his past foes, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, who won a unanimous decision against “King David.”

“In the Mayweather-Mosley fight, I got Mosley!” he predicts.

The Estrada-Lora matchup was one of nine bouts featured during the evening which showcased many exciting matchups and several upsets including Maywood fan favorite Ruben “El Ciclon” Rivera suffering his very first defeat by Coachella’s Angel Osuna, Glendale’s Gabriel “Gapo” Tolmajyan not wasting time with a first-round KO against Denver’s Jose Morales and Leonila Miranda from Sonora (who stepped in for Victor Fonseca) defeating Missouri’s Andre Wilson in an action-packed six rounds.