Interview with the 2025 Inductee
Boxing veteran Hervi Estrada will be honored on April 27 at the National Boxing Hall of Fame (NBHOF) awards ceremony to be held at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, Calif. The Los Angeles resident will take his well-deserved turn in the spotlight alongside the Class of 2025 including champions and special honorees including Larry Holmes, Fernando Vargas, Mikey Garcia, Ricardo Lopez, Amir Khan, Shawn Porter, Bob Arum, Jim Gray, Tom Loeffler, and more.
I first met Hervi over 17 years ago at boxing events around town. He was a cornerman (and a self-described “water boy” carrying the spit bucket) when I met him and through the years, I’ve seen him progress into an in-demand cutman, professional matchmaker, fight promoter, successful gym owner, and his current post as an event producer working with TGB Promotions and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). Boxing fans will recognize him from his time on TV working the corners for many champions through the decades. He has worked in so many corners and in so many countries as he patiently plied his trade in the sweet science.
I used to see him in his signature leather cap always helping out whoever needed assistance at the fights. Known as friendly, energetic, and professional with a great sense of humor, he’s always been a hard worker too. And in time, those in the fight game couldn’t help but take notice of his willingness to work hard and strive for more. Hervi stayed humble–no job was ever too small for him. And now the “Pride of Palmdale” is being celebrated by the NBHOF and chosen by President Bill Young, Senior Vice President Linda Young, Executive Vice President/Producer Drew Young to receive this special honor in front of his peers, friends, family and fight fans around the world at the 2025 NBHOF Induction.
I caught up with Hervi while he was traveling to work with undefeated champ Gabriela Fundora. She was the main event on an April 19 show in Oceanside, Calif. and Hervi was in her corner. Team Fundora was victorious in her matchup against Marilyn Badillo and now Team Estrada will keep on celebrating as Hervi’s big day nears.
During our interview, hear how Hervi first got his start in the sport, what it’s like behind the scenes working pro shows and the passionate words of encouragement he’s learned from his years working in boxing circles with some of the best in the game.
Michele Chong: Hi Hervi, congrats on your National Boxing Hall of Fame induction! What were your first thoughts when you received the news?
Hervi Estrada: My first thought was “OMG”! Oh no…not me?! I told (the WBC’s) Nancy Rodriguez: “I think you made a mistake?” I never in my wildest dreams could ever imagine that this would ever happen to myself so I checked and wasn’t able to talk so I end up hanging up on her call! After I checked, I did apologize later though for hanging up!
MC: (Laughs) Yes, you really are being honored on April 27! And well deserved. You’ve been working in boxing for over 25 years? How did you begin in the sport?
HE: Back in 1978-79 I was walking home from Bell High School and the owner of a brand new gym (the Azteca Boxing Gym) in the City of Bell asked me and my three other friends to start training there for free! So we all went upstairs in a little room and started punching the bags, etc. And then a few days later, he told us to tell our parents to sign us up for classes. Well, I kept on coming but my other three friends never showed up…That just goes to show that boxing isn’t for everyone! And so that was the beginning of my relationship with boxing.
MC: And years later, you also had your own gym (the AV Boxing Club) and were part of a boxing promotions company too? I had attended a couple of your live fights.
HE: Yes, I sold the gym about three years ago because I travel so much due to running TGB and PBC’s events. I’m always on the road, but I left the gym in good hands with my ex-partner Samuel Roman and his two sons Peter and Samuel Jr.
And my fight promotion was called Estrada & Roman Promotions.
MC: I know you have a busy schedule and you’ve been traveling a lot. Describe what your job duties are working with TGB and PBC?
HE: When I started working for TGB I was doing a little bit of everything, matchmaking, helping fighters lose weight, helping to run the events, pretty much doing wherever it takes to make sure that the event happens without any problems. Then about 8-10 years ago my boss Tom Brown called me and asked me to please run this one event in Northern California and that was the beginning of me becoming an Event Producer. And from that day on, he just told me to take over and to run his events the same way I always run my events as a fight promoter.
What a blessing that was and for that I thank Tom Brown and his daughter Brittany Goossen Brown for that BIG opportunity.
MC: You have a great family; your daughter Poula was a pro boxer and I got to see her fight and I’ve also met your wife and your son. Tell us a little about your family…
HE: My wife is Edelmira Estrada (I call her Delmy), my son Hervi Estrada Jr. then Cristina Goudey and then Poula Estrada and the last kid is Priscilla McClure.
I was born in a small village named Pachalum in the beautiful country of Guatemala; I am an American citizen but born there. My wife comes also from a very small pueblo named Union De Tula in the State of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Everyone thinks that I am from somewhere like Guadalajara, Mexico because of the way I sound. I don’t have that Guatemalan accent I guess? I love Mexican people and the beautiful country too. !Viva Mexico!
MC: And you’re working a corner this weekend (April 19)?
HE: Yes, we are in Oceanside, Calif. right now. I am working Gabriela Fundora’s corner as her cutman.
MC: Will Team Fundora be at your award ceremony?
HE: I’m not sure? I think they will because they keep on bringing it up? I never told anyone but Eric Villegas did and my kids too!
MC: What message do you have for your friends, family and boxing community?
HE: I would like to send a message out to all who are out there trying to make it in the fight game to NOT give up! Just when you think that that door is closing up on you that only means that another door is opening up for you. See, God does things in amazing ways so please don’t give up! And that’s not only in the fight game but in any other trade out there.
You will also come across lots of others that may hate on your success but that only means that you are doing something right! So be as kind as you can be and as honest as you can be and that, right there, will elevate you to another level!
I’d like to thank you, Michele, and I’d also like to thank all of those that in the past gave me that opportunity to get to the level that I am today. Without you all this would have not been possible! And I say “all of you” because it’s too many to mention. May God bless us all and let’s keep on pushing–The sky’s the limit!
MC: Thank you, Hervi! You are always so positive. Congrats again on your upcoming National Boxing Hall of Fame award!
HE: Thank you! And just remember…I can look back and say I came a long way. I started training to become a fighter, but I guess it wasn’t for me. Then I became a water boy helping well known trainers then a proud gym owner and then a professional matchmaker and a fight promoter! Now I can only give advice to whoever needs me and help whoever I can help in one way or another!
God is good. But this is super important: God doesn’t want you to be lazy either, we must go out there and make it happen. Hard labor always pays off!
And the decades of hard work will continue to pay off for boxing veteran Hervi Estrada and he will receive his well-earned accolades on April 27. Congrats again to Hervi and all of the awardees!
Tickets: www.nationalboxinghalloffame.com
Photos by Michele Chong/Additional photos courtesy of Hervi Estrada and the NBHOF