Witherspoon to get first national TV shot

By PATRICK OBLEY - pobley@thestate.com

Local heavyweight boxer Moultrie Witherspoon will take a big step up in competition Friday night when he travels to Rhode Island to face rising star Jason Estrada in an eight-round nationally televised bout.

Witherspoon, the Carolina Boxing Organization heavyweight champion, will be making his national television debut in the co-featured bout for ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. He enters the fight with a 14-1 record and eight knockouts.

Witherspoon was in Atlanta sparring with Cedric Boswell when fight promoter Jimmy Burchfield called with the offer to face Estrada. According to Drew Stokes, Witherspoon’s promoter and advisor, Boswell’s manager let Witherspoon out of his sparring obligation for what could be his first shot at national recognition.

“He told us, with an opponent like this, there’s no way we’d stand in the way,” Stokes said. “Moultrie’s ready to showcase his talents against the best in the world.”

Estrada certainly qualifies in that category. One of the most decorated amateur boxers of this decade, Estrada is 12-1 (two knockouts). Estrada, a Providence, R.I., native, is No. 9 in the NABO rankings.

Estrada, a three-time amateur super heavyweight champion, turned pro after winning the gold medal in the 2003 Pan American Games and being a member of the 2004 Olympic team.

Though his record is more celebrated than Witherspoon’s, Estrada (6-feet-1) gives away five inches in height and has a smaller reach.

“But I tell you, what he lacks in size he makes up for with experience,” Stokes said. “He has more power, probably, than Estrada, but he’s earned our respect. What we want to do is make sure Moultrie goes out there aggressive and earn some respect of his own.”

It would appear Witherspoon already has Estrada’s attention.

“I’m not looking past Witherspoon,” Estrada told boxing Web site SecondsOut.com. “He’s coming to beat me, but it’s not happening in my house. I will be world heavyweight champion some day and he’s in my way.”

For people who plan to attend Friday night’s “Tough Man” competition at Jamil Temple, two big screens will be set up to follow Witherspoon’s fight.

Reach Obley at (803) 771-8473.

FIGHT FACTS

WHO: Moultrie Witherspoon vs. Jason Estrada

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday on ESPN2

WHERE: Lincoln, R.I.

RECORDS: Witherspoon 14-1 (8 knockouts), Estrada 12-1 (2 knockouts)

NOTES: Witherspoon trains at the White Rock Boxing . ... The bout is the co-featured event, sharing its billing with cruiserweight Aaron Williams, who will face Jose Luis Herrera. ... Estrada was 261-14 as an amateur. ... Witherspoon was trained as an amateur by the late Mike English. Dominic Robinson-Neal is his professional trainer. Billy Stanick is his manager.