Boxing: Shawn Estrada, United States

Boxer Shawn Estrada came to Beijing with a rather simple goal: Get into the ring as fast as possible so his ill father could see him fight in the Olympics before he died.

He accomplished that just hours after the opening ceremony, dominating Argentina’s Ezequiel Maderna en route to a 10-2 victory that earned him a spot in Saturday’s round of 16. There, Estrada said, he’ll be fighting for himself as well as his father.

“I just feel confident,” said Estrada, who will meet Britain’s James Degale. “I’m ready to fight. It won’t stop here.”

It better not if Estrada, of East Los Angeles, is to help turn around what has so far been a disappointing tournament for U.S. boxers.

Just five of the nine fighters the U.S. brought to Beijing made it out of the first round.

Estrada has had five days off since his last bout, time he helped fill with six rounds of fast-paced sparring early in the week.

Los Angeles Times