Chris Arreola back in action, plus other local boxers scheduled
East Coast versus West Coast: Chris Arreola (left) poses for a photo with trainer Henry Ramirez after their victory in Atlantic City, New Jersey, over Brian Minto. Photo: J. Wyatt
Tonight we’ll see Heavyweight contenders Chris Arreola (28-2, 25 KO’s) of Escondido, Ca. and Manuel Quezada (29-5-0, 18 KO’s) of Oxnard, Ca. facing off in a 10 round bout at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. In the co-feature, Riverside’s Josesito Lopez (26-3, 15 KO’s) will take on Marvin Cordova (21-1-1, 11 KO’s) of Las Vegas, Nevada in an eight round bout. The opening bell is scheduled to sound at 6 p.m.
The 32 year-old Quezada, who is 6’1.5” and usually weighs between 222-230 for his bouts told reporters he’s put his last bout, a 10 round split decision loss to Jason Gavern in April, behind him and is now focused on Arreola who is 6’3” inches tall and usually weighs-in between 250-260 pounds. Like Arreola, Quezada is a local from the Robert Garcia’s Boxing Academy in South Oxnard.
“I know I could have beaten him (Gavern). I just took him lightly and did little sparring for the fight.” Quezada hopes to make a statement against Arreola and stated that he has benefited from the work he has put in. “I know I’m not as big as him (Arreola), but I’m going to go in there and compete. Working with Robert (Garcia) has been a good thing for me. I’ve really worked hard.”
Like Arreola, Lopez, will have his hands full when facing the 25 year-old Cordova. Cordova has only two splotches on an almost spotless record, a loss to Dennis Laurente (34-3-5 with 17 KO’s) and a Draw when facing Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KO’s). Both Laurente and Ortiz are crafty, heavy hitting southpaws.
Also in the San Gabriel Valley, boxing returns to the Pico Rivera Sports Arena. In the eight round main event, super featherweight Eloy Perez (17-0-2, 4 KO’s) will take on Derrick Campos (20-8, 11 KO’s). In the co-feature, jr welterweight Carlos Molina (12-0, 6 KO’s) faces Glenn Gonzales (8-1, 4 KO’s) in an eight round bout.
Speaking of Robert Garcia’s Boxing Academy, unbeaten jr welterweight Mike Dallas (15-0-0, 5 KO’s) of Bakersfield will begin training at the South Oxnard gym on Monday. He’ll be there to spar against unbeaten Lightweight contender Brandon Rios, who will be taking on fellow unbeaten Anthony Peterson on Saturday, September 11th in Las Vegas. Dallas is coming off of an eight round unanimous decision victory on July 16, 2010 at the DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, Mississippi over previously-unbeaten Lanard Lane (12-1-0, 7 KO’s).
Featherweight contender Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia (22-0, 18 KO’s) of Oxnard will face the toughest challenge of his career Saturday night. He’ll be taking on southpaw Cornelius Lock (19-5-1, 12 KO’s) in a 12 round Elimination bout at the Energy Arena in Laredo, TX. The 31 year-old Lock is a southpaw who is 5’7” tall, has a 73” reach, and was the 1997 U.S. Amateur Bantamweight champ and later the NABO bantamweight champion.
Garcia, who is a recent graduate of the Ventura County Police Academy and of Oxnard Junior College, is promoted by Top Rank and trains under the tutelage of his older brother, Robert. However, for this upcoming bout Garcia will be trained by his father, Eduardo. Headlining that card will be Lightweights Miguel Vazquez (25-3-0, 12 KO’s) versus Ji Hoon Kim (21-5-0, 18 KO’s) of Goyang City, South Korea in a world title bout. You might remember Kim, he wowed us locals at the Pechanga Resort and Casino back on February 12, 2010, when he destroyed Tyrone Harris.
August 20th, Thompson Boxing Promotions is promoting a fight card at the Omega Products International in Corona. In the main event, Super Lightweight Mauricio Herrera (14-1, 7 KO’s) will take on Hector Alatorre (16-10, 5 KO’s) in an eight round bout.
Golden Boy Promotions returns to Club Nokia at L.A. Live on Thursday, August 26th for another installment of “Fight Night Club.” Headlining the card will be unbeaten super featherweight Ronny Rios (11-0, 5 KO’s) of Santa Ana, Ca. and unbeaten junior welterweight Antonio Orozco (7-0, 5 KO’s) of National City, Ca. in separate six round bouts.
