Oquendo: I Deserve This Fight More Than Anybody

"No one deserves the Klitschko fight more than me," says long-time heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo. WBA #5 and WBA #12-rated Oquendo (35-7, 23 KOs) can make a strong case for being the next to face WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on April 6 in Hanover, Germany. "I'm seeing these newcomer kids talking about how they deserve to fight Klitschko. I haven't lost a fight legitimately since 2006. In 2003, I had a world-title fight and lost an outrageous robbery against Chris Byrd. Byrd went on to lose the title that I should have won that night to Wladimir. So, if they hadn't stolen my title from me that night, I would have already had a fight against Wladimir! Me getting the fight against Wladimir is boxing karma making things right." 39-year-old Oquendo, who began his career in 1997, has won countless regional titles and is still stopping the opponents he's supposed to stop. He took out capable veterans Robert Hawkins and Joey Abell in his two latest appearances. "I'm still as sharp as I've ever been and I know how to get to Wladimir. I've been trying to get him in the ring for years because I see what you need to do to beat him. Plus, if you put my resume next to anybody else's that they're talking about it's like a joke.  Nobody else deserves this fight as much as I do. So let's get it done, call my promoter, Bobby Hitz, so I can start training to go over there and kick his ass."

Don Elbaum & Greg Sorrentino Announce The $500,000 Great American Heavyweight Box-Off

(L-R) Front - Don Elbaum and Greg Sorrentino; Rear - Devan Vargas, Jason Estrada, Alonzo Butler, Emmanuel Nwodo, Daniel Martz and Joey Abell. NEW YORK CITY (January 15, 2013) - Veteran promoter/matchmaker Don Elbaum and financial backer Greg Sorrentino, today during a press conference held at historic Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, officially announced the creation of The $500,000 Great America Heavyweight Box-Off (TGAHBO). The tournament, planned as an annual event, is scheduled to launch in April at a site to soon be determined. Introduced as participants were 2004 U.S. Olympians Jason "Big Six" Estrada (20-4, 6 KOs), of Providence (RI), and Devan Vargas (18-2, 7 KOs), of Toledo (OH), Tennessee (Chattanooga) knockout-artist Alonzo "Big Zo" Butler (28-2-1, 21 KOs), Minnesota (Coon Rapids) heavy-hitter Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-6, 27 KOs), former USBA cruiserweight champion Emmanuel Nwodo (24-5, 20 KOs), fighting out of Baltimore (Maryland), and a 22-year-old sleeper from West Virginia (Clarksburg), "The Mountain" Daniel Martz (7-0, 6 KOs). Talks are ongoing to finalize the remaining two challengers, plus one reserve, in case of injuries. The purse structure will be $25,000 to the winners and $15,000 to the losers in the quarterfinals, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, in the semifinals, leading up to the championship final in which the champion will earn $250,000 with $50,000 going to the runner-up. "The history of boxing is the heavyweight division and America is a big part of it," Elbaum said. "We weren't looking for ex-champions or highly-rated fighters. Not one of the fighters here is. I'll be the matchmaker; I'm picking the fights, no requests. I had this idea seven or eight months ago. Four months ago, I had discussions with some people and one person, Greg Sorrentino, said he'd back me because he believes we need this in the sport. He's a former professional heavyweight and now a very successful businessman." "I've been involved in various aspects of boxing, never on the promotional end before, but I'm excited," Sorrentino explained. "This is the greatest country in the world and we're going to help get an American heavyweight champion to rule the roost again." Elbaum said he has had discussions with several possible venues, including some casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Turning Stone and Madison Square Garden, and that he's close to making a television deal. He also noted that 12 other heavyweights are in the running for the remaining two spots in the field, plus one reserve fighter, and $25,000 of the TGAHBO champion's purse will be donated to the winner's charity of choice. Also attending the press conference was Las Vegas legend Bill Krachenberger, who will set tournament odds on the individual fighters, as well as for all TGAHBO fights, to be offered at several Nevada sports books. The fighter demonstrating the most "heart" in tournament fights, excluding the TGAHBO champion, will be awarded the Gennaro Pellegrini Jr. Award. Pellegrini, a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, had a dream to fight at the famed Blue Horizon before being shipped out to Iraq for duty. Elbaum made that happen in 2004 but seven months later Pellegrini was killed in action.   (L-R) Devan Vargas, Jason Estrada, Daniel Martz, Joey Abell and Alonzo Butler   Fighter Press Conference Quotes Joey Abell: "I want to thank everyone for getting me involved in this tournament with world-class athletes. I plan to win the tournament by putting everything into it." Alonzo Butler: "I've been given a great opportunity to be in this heavyweight tournament. I'm ready to get it on and then bring the world heavyweight championship back to the United States." Emmanuel Nwodo: "I'm so glad I'm in the tournament and can't wait. This is something new in the heavyweight division. It's awesome! We'll all show our best. This is an opportunity to prove ourselves and I'm proud to be part of it." Jason Estrada: "I appreciate being in this tournament. Good luck to everybody else....but not as much as me. I'm working hard in training and I expect the winner to be me." Devan Vargas: "I'm very excited about this tournament. These fighters will be out to prove themselves, unlike the top heavyweights who won't fight us and are protected by their promoters. One of us will be the next heavyweight champion." Daniel Martz: "I don't have as much experience as these other guys. They have a lot more fights than me, but this is a great opportunity to prove that I belong here."

Oquendo Headlines 'Fight Night at the Horseshoe' on August 18

Hitz Boxing's popular "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" series will return on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, featuring Chicago's WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Champion and WBA #14 rated "Fast" Fres Oquendo (34-7, 22 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Oquendo looked sharp stopping opponent Joey Abell last May. In addition to his current Fedelatin belt, the 39-year-old two-time heavyweight title challenger is a former NABF, NABA and USBA champion. "We offered this fight to several fighters none of them would take it," said event promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing. "Chris Arreola not interested. Before he got the Adamek fight, Travis Walker wasn't interested. Neither was Adamek himself. Franklin Lawrence turned it down. You got all these guys saying nobody will fight them, you offer them a fight and they turn it down for good money." The main supporting bout will feature an all-Chicago six-round super middleweight matchup between Mike "Kujo" Kurzeja (5-0-1, 4 KOs) and capable puncher Gerald Taylor (5-3-2, 2 KOs). Welterweight KO artist Abdullai Amidu (19-0, 17 KOs) of Accra, Ghana, will finally make his Horseshoe Casino debut against Chicago's Jermaine "Too Sweet" White (17-5, 9 KOs) in a six-rounder. Undefeated heavyweight power puncher David Martin III (6-0, 5 KOs) of Hobart, Indiana, will also appear in a six-rounder. Chicago's Dimar "Strongman" Ortuz (4-0, 3 KOs) will face Donta Woods (8-0, 7 KOs) from Atlanta, Georgia, in a six-round cruiserweight battle of undefeated fighters. Former world-title challenger Johnny "Bad Boy" Lewus (26-4-1, 21 KOs) of Chicago is scheduled for a six-round welterweight scrap. Other scheduled action includes former world kickboxing and Golden Gloves boxing champion Simon "The Punisher" Buettner (1-0, 1 KO) of Carpentersville, Illinois, in a light heavyweight four-rounder; former National Jr. Olympic Champion Johnny "WiteBoi" Determan (5-0, 4 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska, making his Horseshoe debut in a four-round super bantamweight bout; Frankie "Time Bomb" Scalise (3-1, 3 KOs) of Chicago in a four-round lightweight bout; and popular crowd-pleaser Paul Littleton (4-0, 4 KOs) of Chicago in a six-round super middleweight bout. The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy.    The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago. Tickets are priced at $90 Ringside & $40 Orchestra and available at all Ticketmaster outlets and ticketmaster.com. All bouts are subject to change. On fight night, doors open 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:30.

Nice Guy Abell Coming into Hammond Confident

Hard to believe you're talking to a hard-punching heavyweight fighter when Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell talks about how much he hates hurting people's feelings, but he is indeed. Coon Rapids, Minnesota's Abell (28-5, 27 KOs) will be looking to pull off an upset when he takes on the more experienced two-time heavyweight title challenger "Fast" Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) for the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship in the 10-round main event of Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" event at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, this Friday, May 25. Abell became part of boxing infamy while suffering a disappointing TKO loss to top contender Chris Arreola in January of last year. As he moved in for the stoppage, Arreola kissed Abell in a show of poor sportsmanship. "He's a prick like that. That's part of his thing; he's the bad guy," explained Abell of Arreola's public persona. "Afterwards, he apologized, but I don't understand people like him. I'll never really completely get over that. He's the kind of person that doesn't care what he does. He's could say something and completely wreck somebody's self-esteem and not care. If I accidentally say something that might hurt someone's feelings, I can't live with myself." Abell says he's glad to be moving forward from that experience and into this fight, another opportunity to move up the heavyweight ladder against a known commodity in Oquendo. "I'm 100% ready for this fight." Abell and Oquendo are well-acquainted, as they two have helped each other in preparation for fights with sparring. "Fres is very sneaky as a fighter and very fast. He taught me a lot. I'm not necessarily worried about his power, as far as hitting me and getting me in trouble, but anybody as quick as he is can knock you out with a punch you don't see coming. But I think I'm just a smarter fighter. I've been dreaming about this fight and I hope I knock him out, but I'm not basing my fight plan on that. I'm going there, planning on winning a unanimous decision. He has a good chin and good defense, so it's no use going out there and wasting all my energy in the first few rounds. I have to go out there and use my athletic ability, my power and my youth to win." Abell says he's enjoying his new career as a personal trainer at Experience Fitness in Blaine, Minnesota, because it makes him feel good to see his clients transforming their bodies into who they want to be. "Maybe that's my problem in boxing," he laughs. "I'm not enough of a prick." The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy.   The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago.  Tickets for "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" are on sale now, starting at a fan appreciation price of $10, and are available at the "Venue" box office, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Hard Luck Oquendo Looking to End on a High Note

"I'd love to fight Seth Mitchell, Chris Arreola or Bryant Jennings, but they don't want any part of me. Those guys will never step up to the plate." Fres Oquendo Chicago-based heavyweight veteran Fast Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) will take on Coon Rapids, Minnesota, southpaw Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-5, 27 KOs) for the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship in the 10-round main event of Hitz Boxing's "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" event at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, this Friday, May 25. The 39-year-old two-time heavyweight title challenger and former NABF, NABA and USBA champion says his comeback is all about leaving boxing on a high note after suffering so many disappointing and highly controversial setbacks. In two of his last three fights, Oquendo lost decisions of the very debatable sort to former champion Oliver McCall and Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck, who went on to face Wladimir Klitschko in a big-money match-up Oquendo says he dreams of. "That's the politics of boxing," said Oquendo during a break in training. "If I don't get the knockout, I can't win. Every time they rob me, it's a black eye to boxing and it takes away my earnings." Of all his questionable losses, the two that bother Oquendo most are his December 2008 split decision to James Toney and the horrific unanimous decision then-IBF champion Chris Byrd was given over him in 2003. "James Toney, that fight bothers me a lot. I out-hustled him out-punched him and they robbed me. That fight and the Chris Byrd fiasco. Those two are neck and neck. What Don King did to me was an injustice for boxing period. Not just me, all of boxing. That's why I love fighting in my backyard. That's where all my people come out for me. I thank Bobby Hitz for putting me on this show against a decent opponent." Oquendo says he's quite familiar with Abell. "I know him pretty well. He's a pretty strong puncher. I sparred with him before and he presents a challenge, but I'm very experienced and have the will to win. Being a hard puncher is not going to be enough to beat the great Fres. I live a good life and I still feel like I'm in my early 20s. I'm very strong and fast and I'm coming there to put on a spectacular performance. He'll be trying to come in with nothing to lose, but I love chopping down the bigger guys. I'm smarter and faster. That's the difference." Oquendo says his post-boxing life will be all about helping area youth stay off the streets. "This is my last hurrah. I'm taking one more try to get that elusive championship I deserve and then I'll call it a day after that and transition to my new passion: giving back to the youth. I'm starting the not-for-profit Fres Oquendo Boxing Academy in the Humble Park Field House on Chicago's West Side. 26th Ward Alderman, Roberto Maldonado, is partnering with me and supporting this great cause of mine. I'm going to use boxing to teach young people to say no to gangs and drugs." The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy.   The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago.  Tickets for "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" are on sale now, starting at a fan appreciation price of $10, and are available at the "Venue" box office, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Hitz Adds Three More Fights to Mammoth Horseshoe Event on May 25

Promoter Bobby Hitz and Hitz Boxing have added three more fights to the lineup for their Friday, May 25 "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" event at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. In addition to the 10-round WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship main event between "Fast" Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) and Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-5, 27 KOs), no less than 9 big fights are now scheduled, including an intriguing eight-round all-Chicago middleweight match-up between Donatas Bondorovas (14-3-1, 3 KOs) and Ramon Valenzuela (7-0, 1 KO). Also added to the schedule are undefeated middleweight Meegal Harper (5-0, 5 KOs) of Chicago Heights taking on Traverse City, Michigan's more experienced Chris Grays in a four-rounder and pro-debuting welterweight Nick Ramirez of Rockford, Illinois, facing off against Lorenzo Wilson (1-1-1) of Indianapolis in a four-round fight. The opponent for light welterweight Genaro Mendez's (4-1-1, 3 KOS) six-round fight will be David Laque of Bloomington, Minnesota. The full lineup: Genaro Mendez (Chicago) vs. David Laque (Bloomington, MN) David "Diesel" Latoria (Chicago) vs. Stanley Allen (Gary, IN) Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (Chicago) vs. Adrian Hermann (Everett, WA)  David Martin III (Hobart, IN) vs. Tim Washington (Toledo, OH) Phillip Triantafillo (Chesterton, IN) vs. Emerson Chasing Bear (Rapid City, SD) Terry Martin (Chicago) vs. Donta Woods (Atlanta, GA) Donatas Bondorovas (Chicago) vs.Ramon Valenzuela (Chicago) Meegal Harper (Chicago Heights, IL) vs. Chris Grays (Traverse City, MI) and pro-debut Nick Ramirez (Rockford) vs. Lorenzo Wilson (Indianapolis, IN) "Fast" Fres Oquendo (Chicago) vs. Joey Abell (Coon Rapids, MN) Fedelatin Heavyweight Title The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy.   The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago.  Tickets for "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" are on sale now, starting at a fan appreciation price of $10, and are available atthe "Venue" box office, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

May 25 Fight Night at the Horseshoe Heating Up! Martin to Face Woods in Cruiserweight Slugfest

Hitz Boxing's blockbuster Fight Night at the Hammond event, scheduled for May 25 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, just got even more exciting with the announcement of the co-featured bout. 31-year-old Chicago native and UFC, Strikeforce, Affliction and King of the Cage MMA star Terry Martin (5-0, 5 KOs) will roll the boxing dice and put his perfect undefeated record on the line against Atlanta, Georgia's also undefeated Donta Woods (8-0, 7 KOs) in an explosive cruiserweight six-rounder. The two power punchers will meet as the main supporting bout to the 10-round WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship main event between "Fast" Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) and Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-5, 27 KOs). Martin holds Bachelor of Science degree, a Master's Degree, and is working toward a PhD., and also frequently visits schools, churches and community centers to speak to young people about the value of staying in school. An impressive 22-9 in MMA, hammer-fisted Martin stands 5' 8" and packs power in both hands. Woods enjoyed a long and successful amateur career, competing internationally and winning the 2005 Ringside National Championships, among many other distinctions. He stands 6' 2" and has an especially impressive body attack. "Someone's 0 will go and probably by a knockout in this fight," said event promoter, Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing. "When power punchers like these two meet up, it's always a treat for the fans and we're happy they have both agreed to fight." Also on the undercard: Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez (6-0, 3 KOs) will go six rounds against Everett, Washington's Adrian Hermann (3-3-1, 1 KO); undefeated power puncher David Martin III (5-0, 4 KOS) of Hobart, Indiana, will face Tim Washington (0-1) of Toledo, Ohio, in a heavyweight four-rounder; undefeated heavyweight David "Diesel" Latoria (10-0, 5 KOS) will go six against Gary, Indiana's Stanley Allen (5-3, 3 KOs); nearby Chesterton, Indiana, heavyweight Philip Triantafillo (2-0, 1 KO) will fight a four-rounder against the more experienced Emerson Chasing Bear (4-3-2, 3 KOs) of Rapid City, South Dakota. The opponent for light welterweight Genaro Mendez's (4-1-1, 3 KOS) six-round fight is still TBA. The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy.   The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago.  Tickets for "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" are on sale now, starting at a fan appreciation price of $10, and are available atthe "Venue" box office, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Hitz Grateful to Abell for Agreeing to Oquendo Bout

The promoter of long-time heavyweight contender "Fast" Fres Oquendo (33-7, 21 KOs) commends Oquendo's next opponent, Minnesota's Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-5, 27 KOs), for agreeing to fight. Oquendo and Abell will meet for the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Championship in the 10-round main event of Hitz Boxing's latest "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" event on Friday, May 25, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. The bout is presented by Hitz Boxing in conjunction with Roy Jones Jr.'s Square Ring Promotions. "We sent challenges out to a bunch of guys," said promoter Bobby Hitz. "Chris Arreola, Bryant Jennings, Seth Mitchell, the list goes on, and none of them are willing to fight him. Abell was the only one with the balls to step up." Similar to fellow Chicagoan Carlos Molina, the majority of Oquendo's losses have been of a questionable nature. He dropped horrid decisions to Jean-Marc Mormeck and Oliver McCall in two of his last three fights. Hitz says Oquendo losing two of his last three should have been a flashing green light for up-and-coming heavyweights to try and add a notable opponent to their resume, but such was not the case. "It makes you wonder about the future of the sport and especially the heavyweight division when not one young contender is willing to accept a challenge." Hitz also gives credit to his fighter for taking such a potentially dangerous fight off-TV, just to stay busy. "Joey Abell has 27 knockouts in 28 wins. He can crack. You have to admire a guy like Fres who would choose a puncher like this as his opponent for a non-televised show in front of his hometown fans." The high-class atmosphere and luxurious surroundings the Horseshoe has to offer make their boxing shows a Las Vegas-style night of boxing that Chicago-area fans don't have to get on a plane to enjoy.      The Horseshoe Casino has an intimate, comfortable venue with luxurious seats, a spectacular gaming area, free parking, exquisite food and all the amenities -- and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Chicago.  Tickets for "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" are on sale now, starting at a fan appreciation price of $10, and are available atthe "Venue" box office, ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.