Olympics boxer Shawn Estrada is now a pro

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Shawn Estrada, a U.S. Olympic boxer from East Los Angeles (sound familiar?), appeared in Ontario today to publicize his professional debut fight Nov. 29 on the HBO-televised card highlighted by the Paul Williams-Verno Phillips junior-middleweight world title fight at the new Citizens Business Bank Arena.

‘I’m excited, especially that I get to have my own coaching staff, and not that Team USA situation,’ Estrada told The Times. ‘That was chaos.’

We documented the trouble with USA boxing during the Summer Games in Beijing, and Estrada said it was awful being forced to train in Colorado Springs, away from his regular trainer and his ailing father, who died before the Olympics were over. ‘I was told, ‘Everybody has problems,’ ‘ Estrada said.

But his smile had returned Wednesday as he anticipated a pro debut at middleweight for promoter Dan Goossen, an outing no later restrained by the odd scoring system of the Olympics.

‘You’re going to see a monster, man,’ Estrada said even though his opponent has yet to be named. ‘I can punch with both hands and just let loose. I can do anything. I’m a great boxer. You’re talking to a future champion.’

-- Lance Pugmire