Father Dave vs. Steve Estaban – August 23, 2024
August 23, 2024. I landed at Gold Coast airport to discover that my opponent had changed. I had thought I was fighting someone named, Leon Irwin. I’d tried to do some research but had found out nothing about him. Now I was fighting a Brad Glenn, about whom I also knew nothing.
The promoter said to me, “you won’t have any trouble with him”, but that didn’t reassure me. I remember my professional debut in 1996. The promoter then had told me, “don’t worry about your opponent. He’s had three fights but he ony won one of them. His opponent got so tired of hitting him, he fell over.” It wasn’t until I climbed into the ring for that fight that I found out the truth. The ring announcer introduced my opponents as having had seven professional bouts, all wins!
I saw a recording of my opponent weighing in. He looked to be in his 40’s (around 20 years younger than me). He was a bit bigger than me, and he was sporting a mohawk! There was no more information forthcoming from the promoter so I didn’t push. There was no point. I recalled the wisdom of Robert E. Lee – that you do everything you can to prepare, and then you leave it in hands of the Lord of Battles.
I wished the mohawk man the best of luck when I first saw him that night. As it turned out, he needed it. He was not an experienced fighter at all, and they never should have matched him against me. Our attire said it all. He went in wearing a singlet and headgear. I had no singlet and no headgear. He was dressed as an amateur, and me as a pro, and web performed accordingly.
Brad Glenn is a lovely guy, and he could also take a hit. My cornerman, Grant, says I carried him in the first round but I don’t think so. I threw some very heavy shots and he withstood the entire barrage, at least for that round. The referee stopped the fight early in the second and I’m glad he did. I didn’t want to damage the man, and was able to enjoy a drink with him later in the evening.
I thought I’d be getting an early shower but then the promoter asked me if I wanted to back up for another fight – this time with Steven Estaban!
Estaban had beaten me in our last encounter on December 23, 2023. Going into that fight, I’d been told that Estaban was an amateur champion with no professional record. After the fight he told me that he’d had more than seventy professional fights in Argentina before arriving in Australia. His experience had been obvious in the way he fought.
I’d only lost on a split decision at that last encounter so I knew we were a good match. Moreover, I liked the man, and didn’t want to see him do all the training and travelling for no benefit. I asked the promoter if he was going to pay me for the second fight. He refused, but I decided to do it anyway, for Steve’s sake.
Estaban once again showed himself to be a true professional in the ring. He is slightly smaller than me but he has excellent footwork and focus. He took control in the first round by stepping to the outside of my lead foot and leading with his right hand. He scored one cracking right hand to my jaw along with some excellent body shots. The first round was his.
Grant, my cornerman, tore into me after the first round and told me to get moving. I’ve always been a slow starter. I do well over an extended number of rounds which is why the pro-style suits me so much better than the amateur which is more like a sprint. Even so, I managed to kick in much harder in the second round. Grant figured I might have won the round. Even so, there were only three rounds, so I was going to have to win the third, and win it well, if I was going to win the fight.
I came out firing in the third. My opponent, Steve, said to me after the bout that when we had met the previous December, I had tired in the third round, and he was right. This time I’d gone on an amazing diet where I’d lost almost six kilograms in five days. I thought my energy might flag this time as a result. It didn’t.
I kept the pressure on throughout that last round though I was feeling frustrated that I just couldn’t land anything decisive on the elusive Estaban, and then, in the closing seconds of that final round, my left hand connected squarely with his jaw, and the whole world slowed down.
It was truly surreal. I saw the expression on Steve’s face suddenly go blank, then he stumbled to the left, then he spiralled, then he fell, and it all seemed to be in slow motion. I just stood there. The referee was holding me back with one hand but he didn’t need to. I was spellbound by the magic unfolding before my eyes. It was probably only a couple of seconds before the spell broke but it was a spectacular moment. All my years of training – my thousands of hours of running, sweating, punching and gasping – were coalescing into this fateful moment. I had knocked my opponent to the canvas!
There was no count as the bell had gone, but the split decision went my way this time. Now we’re looking to a ‘decider’, though I want to make sure we get paid for the next one.
Yes, it was a big night of boxing for me – the highlight of my boxing career thus far. I’d gone into that night asking God whether there was any point me continuing with the fight game at age 62. A lot of people think I’m deluding myself, reckoning that I can continue with this at my age. I took that night’s experience as a divine imprimatur on my pugilistic endeavours. I’m going to keep pushing forwards.
I’ve now been offered a shot at an Australian title in November. If that comes off, it could lead to things even bigger and better! Perhaps I’ll get to fight overseas again? Perhaps I’ll be able to generate enough money to fund all the work we want to do at our bush camp? Perhaps. Perhaps.
Boxing has done a lot for me. At a personal level, it keeps me sane. From a ministry perspective, it has been the key to all my work with vulnerable people – from people with substance-abuse problems to the mentally unwell, to friends who just seem to be drifting aimlessly. The intense engagement of the boxing ring can have a transformative effect. It’s transformed me, and it continues to transform me. Do consider joining me if you’d like to be a part of the process
