Juan Estrada, father of Olympic boxer Shawn Estrada, dies
The elder Estrada, a former boxer himself, survived heart and kidney problems long enough to watch his son's first-round bout on TV. But he didn't see his son's second bout, and died early today.
Juan Estrada, a 64-year-old garment cutter and former boxer who realized the dream of seeing his son Shawn become an Olympic boxer, died early today at St. Vincent Medical Center.
Estrada, who had been the subject of Times stories by sports writer Kevin Baxter and columnist Steve Lopez, watched with pride just more than a week ago when Shawn, 23, easily won his first fight in Beijing against an Argentinian. Estrada had hoped to travel to Beijing with his son, but his failing health kept him home in Maywood.
Estrada was hospitalized Thursday with worsening heart and kidney problems but held out the hope of seeing his son's second-round fight on TV in the early morning hours Saturday. He was in grave condition, though, and missed the fight. His wife, Sandy, stood by his bedside and held Estrada's hand while their son was in the ring in China, where he lost his fight and bowed out of the Olympics.
As far back as January, Juan Estrada was told by doctors that he had very little time left. But Estrada said he was fighting to stay alive so he could see his son box, even as Shawn said he was fighting for his father in Beijing.
Estrada's wife, three daughters, two sisters and a brother were with him when he died. On Sunday, as the family began making funeral arrangements, Shawn Estrada was making arrangements to return home from Beijing.
