Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Conner McGregor have had setbacks. They all became better because of that. Well now Jose “Froggy” Estrada has had a setback. At the Ventura Fairgrounds on Cinco de Mayo. Froggy, now 3-1 as a pro and undefeated the last eight years, lost to Emilio Chavez, now 12-9 with a rear naked choke hold in the first round.

Before the fight Froggy was ready for his fight. He could not wait to get it going. “I am ready Coach! This what I have trained so hard for.” Then Chavez walked by us. “That’s him! Man I am ready to take him out!” I gave him our special handshake since his time at Fillmore High School and said I will see you soon. “Coach come back before I go out and tell me ‘The Story’ before I fight,” said Froggy. I said I would.

Combate Americas had a great line up on the card and gave me and my guests (my wife Judy, and Froggy’s English teacher Josh Overton) press passes and great ringside seats. The fights were great. The fighters both male and female gave everything they had. After about four fights, it was time for the Main Event of the night.

As I said I would I went to the warm-up room, and told Froggy “The Story.” After that it was game on, and time for the sellout crowd to see their friend, family member, and hero come out to fight. Froggy entered to the roar of the crowd. ‘’FROGGY, FROGGY, FROGGY!” and blew the roof off the place. The fans were so loud you could have heard them in Fillmore if you had your windows open.

The crowd booed just as loud for Chavez. At this time I gotta tell you folks, knowing and loving Froggy the way I do, this was a hard thing to go through. My wife saw my nerves and gave me a hug and we prayed together for Froggy and the other fighter’s health. Thank you Judy.

When the bell rang for the fight Froggy took a swing at Chavez. Then Chavez went for a leg shoot and got Froggy to the ground. Chavez had control of the fight from there. Froggy fought with guts and grit to get out of the hold. The young man showed the crowd what he was made of. He almost got to his feet, but then Chavez cinched the rear naked choke hold. Without air Froggy had to be smart and tap-out to be able to fight another day.

Then the crowd found out what class was, while Chavez acted in victory, with gestures and classless acts. After that the Combate Americas interviewer was talking to Chavez, the crowd started up again “FROGGY! FROGGY! FROGGY!’’ and was so loud you could not hear what he was saying.

When they talked to Froggy on T V Froggy, full of emotions and tears streaming from his eyes, first went to shake the hand of Chavez. Then said, “I am sorry I lost tonight. I wanted this here in my hometown. I will be back for all of you. This is a setback but I will be back.” The crowd went wild. Combate Americas owner Campbell McLaren and President Former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio told the crowd that they are backing Froggy and will support him because they believed in him.

After the fight Judy and I went backstage to talk to Froggy, with tears still flowing down all of our cheeks. Froggy gave me the special handshake we share and hugged me. I said a few words. I told him that Fillmore will still and always love him. Froggy said, “This is hard. I wanted this guy. I will be back Coach.” I will tell you this folks, I believe him. Later in the evening Froggy came out to hug and thank the people in the crowd during the late fights. This is what I call class.

Fillmore let me tell ya this, Froggy will be back in the cage soon. He will work hard and learn from this. I am so proud of him. He showed more class in defeat, than some men show in victory. Froggy will leap again.