Poll Faces Estrada in WBA Title Bout

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

Poll, 23, will face a tough test in Estrada, who is known for his punching power.

Since turning pro in 1983, Estrada, 25, has a 34-7 record and 29 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 at Osaka, Japan, in October, knocking out Takuya Muruguma in the eighth round.

Poll (19-0-2) is the North American Boxing Federation junior featherweight champion. He won his title from Louie Espinoza in May in Las Vegas. Poll has fought only twice since but won both on decisions, 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 NABF title on the line.