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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, May 11, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 27, 2004 Wilson chases Olympic dream in box-offs Central Point fighter must beat top-ranked Estrada tonight and Saturday to make U.S. boxing team By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The footprints stretch before him, deep and awe-inspiring. They belong to Cassius Clay and Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Patterson and Oscar De La Hoya, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, the Spinks brothers. Mike Wilson wants desperately to follow in them. U.S. Olympic boxers have long captivated us, and Wilson, the Central Point super heavyweight who learned his craft at the Bulldog Boxing Club, is, well, two steps away. He fights Jason Estrada tonight in the Olympic box-offs at the Convocation Center in Cleveland. Wilson must beat the top-ranked Estrada twice. Advertisement If Wilson wins tonight, they would go at it again Saturday, with the winner making the Olympic team. Estrada needs only one win to earn the berth. "This is the final weekend," says Wilson, 21. "This is something I’ve been working at since I started boxing, to get on the Olympic team. I have to put it all on the line and go out and fight with all my heart. "I can’t wait for (tonight) to get here. It’ll change everything from here on out if I make the Olympic team." The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has a 67-17 record and is hardly new to big fights. He’s competed in a number of national championships and was selected as an Olympic alternate in 2000, which led to several international fights. "I’ve been in this kind of situation before," says Wilson. "I’m pretty prepared." He’ll be looking to avenge a 23-14 loss last Friday to the 6-0, 240-pound Estrada at the trials. It was the first time they’d met even though they’ve fought at the same level for years. "We’ll save the best for last," says Wilson. Estrada is no slouch, having won U.S. titles from 2001-03 and the Pan-Am Games last year. A week ago, Wilson and Estrada fought to a draw through the first round, and Estrada built a two-point lead after two rounds. He led by seven after three and spent the last half of the four-round fight staying away from Wilson. Joe Pedrojetti, who with son, Jim, trains Wilson, disagreed with the scoring. The Bulldog camp believed Estrada was awarded points on punches that didn’t land solidly. Their perspective differs from that of Roland Estrada, Jason’s father and trainer. "They won’t count it if you don’t put your body weight behind it," says Roland Estrada. "Someone was hitting Mike Wilson, and it wasn’t the referee." He noted that Wilson "looked like he went through the wars" after the fight. Wilson actually got banged up in his two previous bouts, says Joe Pedrojetti. "The wars weren’t with him (Jason Estrada)," he says. With the way the scoring went a week ago, Wilson plans to keep much busier. "I told Mike," says Joe Pedrojetti, "‘If he throws two punches, you throw three; if he throws three, you throw four.’ We’re going to out-duel him. We really do have a better style. The table is set. "Plus, if you beat him once, I think you beat him twice." Estrada relies on hand speed and technique, but his conditioning is suspect, says Wilson, who possesses a nice blend of style, skill and speed to go with his size. "I have to keep a lot of pressure on him," says Wilson. "I know I’m in a lot better shape. If I set a real hard pace and he tires out, that’s basically what I have to do. I need to throw a lot more punches and score a lot more points. He wasn’t in very good shape, and he won ‘t be in much better shape a week later." Wilson was actually ranked No. 1 before Estrada, who ascended there in 2001, but he was snake-bitten by a series of injuries at inopportune times. He suffered a nose bleed that wouldn’t stop and lost in the 2001 U.S. Championships after an inadvertent elbow. The following year, a head butt under the chin opened a 30-stitch cut, and he was further slowed by a hand injury. Last year, Wilson was sparring with headgear on but still suffered a 15-stitch cut over his left eye that forced him to miss a big tourney. He nearly suffered a similar fate at the U.S. Championships in January, but a cut to an eye was stitched up well enough for him to make it through the semifinals. Before the finals, he was awarded the victory when his opponent couldn’t fight due to a hand injury of his own. "I’m thinking, ‘Man, Mike, you need to go to church," says Joe Pedrojetti. "He had nothing but bad luck." They hope his luck is about to change. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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