Future Star Seniesa Estrada

Every fighter has a unique story about how they first found boxing. For 21-year-old undefeated fighter Seniesa Estrada 3-0, the idea was hers to begin with. Growing up with a father who loved boxing, she gravitated to the sport and soon after wanted to go to the gym and train. It was something that her father was against.

“Growing up my dad showed me Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. It was just something I liked and asked my dad if girls boxed. I wanted him to take me to the gym, it’s something that intrigued me,” said Estrada.

 

What was supposed to be used as a lesson to persuade her to stay away from boxing backfired. After visiting one other gym where she was told to come back when she was older, the next stop was the Hollenbeck PAL gym in East Los Angeles.

 

“We stopped at the gym and my dad’s friend 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Paul Gonzalez was in charge there, so I knew he wouldn’t turn me down. He ended up introducing me to my first trainer,” said Estrada.

 

Soon after she was set to spar her first time against a boy in the gym. Her father figured that after a few punches his daughter would want to go home and not return. What happened next wasn’t expected.

 

After taking the first punches, Estrada fought back and ended up overwhelming the boy making him cry and quit. The experience was a sign of her resilience, something she would use along her career as an amateur.

 

“I lost my first fight and I lost my second and I lost my third fight,” said Estrada as she laughs at the memory.

 

“After that I went on a 55 fight winning streak. You learn, so after that I learned from my mistakes and didn’t lose again till 4 years later,” said Estrada.

 

Along the way she racked up a record of 97-4 and won US Nationals, Golden Gloves and every other tournament there was to win in the United States. After competing internationally the decision was made to turn professional.

 

Her father Joe Estrada reflects on the experience from the first days of taking her to the gym and working as her trainer in the amateurs to seeing her progress now as a professional.

 

“Champion, that’s what I see in her future. If we just get the chance to fight them, she’ll defeat them. I was hoping to get her at least one more fight this year but there is a champion in Riverside named Sindy Amador who she’s willing to fight,” said Joe Estrada.

Training alongside former world champion Sergio Mora, Estrada gets the benefit of learning from trainer Dean Campos. Even in a gym full of male fighters,there is no denying the talents and skills of Estrada.

 

“She’s more skilled than or just as skilled as any of the guys I train. She does all the same workouts that they do. When they run across the street throwing the weights, she does the same thing as they do. She works right alongside Sergio (Mora),” said Campos.

 

The issue now seems to keep Estrada ready as efforts are made to keep her busy and get her fights in the near future.

 

“If she gets the opportunity to fight more frequently, she’ll show that she’s a world class fighter. As of right now it’s tough to get her fight,” said Campos.

She uses the knowledge and experience that training along Mora offers to her advantage. “It’s great because he’s a smart fighter and I know where he comes from so the advice he offers isn’t only for boxing but about life. Seeing him train even when his career wasn’t going his way is really motivating because in women’s boxing you don’t have too many doors open for you. I’ve been disappointed so many times in boxing that I know to keep working hard and keep training,” said Estrada.

 

While Estrada stays busy in the gym working her craft, she finds time to work with a group led by actor Edward James Olmos who have just completed a script titled “Like a Butterfly” which tells the story of how boxing changed brought a father and daughter together.

 

The story caught the attention of Olmos after the Los Angeles Times featured Estrada and her father in a five part article that chronicled their lives in and out of the ring.

 

“His son is the producer and writer. We met with them in 2010 and they were busy with other projects but the script is done and we’re ready to start shooting in December,” said Estrada.

 

The story will focus on a chapter of her life that dates to before she was born. This includes her father’s battle with drug addiction and jail time.

 

“It’s about my dad’s life and mine and how boxing saved his life,” said Estrada.

 

Her involvement in boxing led to his staying clean and becoming an important part of her development as a young fighter.She will now try to write the next chapter in her story that includes a world title.