New Test Awaits Unbeaten Poll--This Time in the Ring for a Title

On Tuesday, Jesus Poll will challenge World Boxing Assn. junior featherweight champion Juan Jose Estrada of Tijuana in a 12-round title fight at the Forum.

A year ago, the odds of that happening seemed like a real longshot.

Not just the chances of Poll getting a title fight. Rather his chances of getting any fight.

Although he is unbeaten at 19-0-2 with four knockouts and has rarely been hit hard in recent fights, Poll, 23, was barred from fighting in California for several months last spring because of his inability to pass a neurological test designed by the State Athletic Commission to detect signs of brain damage.

A native Venezuelan who settled in North Hollywood when he signed with the Ten Goose Boxing Club, Poll does not speak English. So when he first failed the exam last spring, his manager, Dan Goossen, blamed it on the language barrier. Poll failed three other times but the problem, it was claimed, stemmed from cultural differences.

The exam was subsequently revised and Poll passed the new version, about four months after initially taking the test.

“We developed a second, more comprehensive exam,” explained Ken Gray, executive officer of the State Athletic Commission, “to make sure we had a good result, to assure ourselves there were no language or cultural problems or other problems that were having an effect. This assures us that the subject understands the exam he is taking. It gives us a better reading. If language was a problem, this would tell us that.”

Poll will face a tough test of a different nature Tuesday when he goes up against Estrada, a man renowned for his punching power. Estrada first showed it in his amateur days when he won 62 of 64 fights, 47 by knockout. Thirty-five of those knockouts came in the first round.

Since turning pro in 1983, Estrada, 25, has amassed a 34-7 record along with 29 more knockouts.

“Estrada does have a crisp punch,” said Dan Goossen, Poll’s manager, “but Jesus showed a great left hook in beating Julian Solis in his last fight. I don’t care who you are. You just don’t walk through great punches.”

Estrada won his WBA title from Bernardo Pinango on a decision last May in Tijuana, then successfully defended it in Osaka, Japan, in October, beating Takuya Muruguma on an eighth-round knockout.

Poll is the North American Boxing Federation junior featherweight champion. He won the title from Louie Espinoza in May in Las Vegas. Poll has fought only twice since because of his battles with the State Athletic Commission. He won both by times by decision, beating Alan Makitoki at The Country Club in Reseda in September in a non-title bout and Solis in Las Vegas a month later with his title on the line.

Now comes Estrada. But on this test, there will be no second chances.