AV’s Team Estrada in Action THIS Saturday!

Poula Estrada Makes Pro Debut

“Chatter Box” readers, get ready to rumble in the Antelope Valley!

Fans are in for a treat this Saturday, July 19 as “The Rumble in the Desert” blasts off in the Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, Calif. The bash will feature local prospects from nearby Palmdale and these AV fight have had boxing fans buzzing for weeks. Here’s my special preview of this weekend’s highly-anticipated showdown!

The “PEC” at the University of Antelope Valley will be the epicenter of action. Oxnard’s Erik Ruiz (trained by famed coach Robert Garcia) will battle El Salvador’s Jonathan Alcantara in the main event while Lancaster’s own Johnny Reyes will be pitted against Santa Ana’s Alejandro Ochoa in the co-main. Other Palmdale/Lancaster pugilists fighting on the card are Gio Sarran, Poula Estrada, Helaman Olguin, Steven Zayas and Ismael Fernandez.

There will be special guests and boxing champs in attendance including local prizefighters Palmdale’s WBO champ Matt Villanueva, Lancaster’s WBO NABO titlist Chris Avalos, Oxnard’s IFBA belt holder Crystal “La Morenasa” Morales, future champ Palmdale’s Joel Diaz Jr. and beloved WBC champion Israel “El Magnifico” Vazquez. All are scheduled to attend and will be greeting the fans. Israel Vazquez will be bringing some new pro fighters (Carlos “Macho” Lopez and Victor “El Niño” Castro) with him and he will also have a T-shirt giveaway in association with Supreme Boxing, WBC Cares and Magnifico Boxing Gym. Ring announcer Sonny Franco will be introducing the bouts and celebrities inside the ropes.

On Saturday evening, fight fans in Lancaster, Palmdale, Antelope Valley, the Mojave Desert and beyond will get a chance to see their hometown heroes shine in the spotlight. The city pride will be strong and flowing through the crowd at the Pioneer Event Center come Saturday night.

I caught up with Palmdale’s Hervi Estrada, one of the show runners of this action-packed card (presented by promoter Refugio Rodriguez/Rodriguez Promotions), to hear all the details about this upcoming event which has seven bouts scheduled. He says that one of the highlights of the card is having so many talented local products scheduled to trade punches. All seven fighters in the blue corner hail from either Palmdale, Lancaster or Oxnard. Hervi says this weekend’s clash will have competitive exciting matches. He previously has worked with Rodriguez Promotions with a recent show in Oxnard and says this desert dust-up will have the fans on their feet.

“Right now we are full of talent here in the Antelope Valley. But back in the day I’d have to travel far to get fighters like Japan, Vegas and L.A. a lot!” Hervi tells me with a chuckle. “Now they’re all here in our own backyard; it’s great.”

He also mentions the public is invited to attend TOMORROW’S (Friday, July 18) weigh-in at the University of the Antelope Valley in Lancaster.

Estrada has worked in the sport for over 30 years, first starting (as he likes to call it) as an “underground fighter” back in the ’70s.

“I began boxing in 1979 with Mr. Mota when the Azteca Boxing Gym first opened,” the amiable Estrada told me during our phone interview. Hervi is also a boxing trainer and a busy matchmaker in SoCal and beyond. Known for sporting his leather cap on fight nights, Hervi is a popular choice when promoters need matchmaking. He works well with the fighters and promoters and delivers in the ring. He says he enjoys being a matchmaker and also likes finding challengers and opponents ready to step in at any given time.

Estrada also trains up-and-comers (both amateur and pro) at the Antelope Valley Boxing Club, which he co-owns. And there’s that one star student in particular that Hervi has been training for 10 years now. This amateur champ will be making her pro debut this weekend and it’s none other than Hervi’s daughter, Poula Estrada, 21.

The petite powerhouse and brand new pro will be facing San Bernardino’s Blanca Raymundo, who has fought 11 times as a pro.

I’ve known Hervi for several years now and first met Poula when she was a young teen fighting amateur. Hervi is known for his easygoing nature and ever-present smile but I wanted to know how this father/trainer’s nerves will be when his little girl makes her pro debut.

“How are you feeling? Do you think you’ll need some tequila before her fight?” I joke.

“No…No tequila this time,” Hervi laughs. “I have a daughter to look after and a responsibility with the show.”

Poula will fight at 112 on Saturday night but her proud father says the young puncher can fight anywhere from 106 to 112. Estrada and his wife Delmy have four kids and Team Estrada will be present this weekend cheering on their favorite girl.

And Poula will be ready. She and her dad have been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“We had a very good training camp; Poula knows what to do,” Estrada says, “so I’m not nervous at all. I know what’s she’s capable of doing in the ring.”

During her amateur stint, Poula racked up tons of championship belts, trophies and medals that have led her to making her pro debut. I ask her trainer/father about switching from amateur to pro.

“She’s fought with some of the best in the world in the amateurs so she’s more than ready,” notes her dad. “She has a tremendous jab, a great hook AND she hits with both hands!”

If you’d like to check out the “Pride of Palmdale” making her professional debut and all of the other Antelope Valley prizefighters on the card, don’t miss out on the “Rumble in the Desert”!

“Rumble in the Desert”
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Doors Open: 6PM
Tickets: uavpec.com

Photos courtesy of Hervi Estrada