Date switched for Seth Mitchell vs Chris Arreola fight
Heavyweight boxer Chris Arreola of Escondido, California poses during his official weigh-in at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, November 3, 2006 in Las Vegas for his fight against Damian Wills, November 4. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
August 13, 2013
This afternoon, Golden Boy Promotions announced their Showtime doubleheader featuring a 12-round clash of heavyweight contenders, Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (26-1-1, 19 KOs) and Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (35-3-0, 30 KOs) plus the 10-round featherweight match between Mexican superstar Rafael Marquez (41-8, 37 KOs) and a Thompson Boxing Promotions’ prospect Efrain Esquivias (16-2-1, 9 KOs) has been switched to the following day. The telecast and event start times remain the same but instead of on Friday night, it will be on Saturday night. Of course all tickets bought for September 6 will be honored on September 7.
The Mitchell versus Arreola 12-round tilt will be for the WBC Silver Heavyweight Title. The 32 year-old Arreola, who lives in nearby Escondido, CA, had been on his game with seven straight victories after that mixed decision loss to Tomasz Adamek on April 4, 2010. Then, in April of this year, Arreola’s upward trajectory went off course again when he took a beating from Bermane Stiverne.
Not to make excuses but after his nose was broken early in the fight, he had problems breathing. Before the fight, Vegas had Stiverne as a 3.25-to-1 betting underdog. The bout, originally scheduled for March 2nd had been postponed after Arreola, the WBC’s #1 ranked contender, came down with bronchitis.
In actuality, no one knew what to expect from either boxer. It was Arreola’s first fight in 14 months and Stiverne hadn’t fought in over a year. To get Arreola ready for this all important, make or break bout with Mitchell, Arreola’s trainer Henry Ramirez mentioned that Chris would be training out of town, in a remote spot in Arizona.
Seth Mitchell (black trunks) knocks Johnathon Banks off his feet in the second round of their NABO and WBC International Heavyweight Titles bout at the Barclays Center on June 22, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images
Mitchell, who’s fights rarely go the distance, also had a wake-up call. He was stopped in the second round by Johnathon Banks on November 17, 2012, a guy he outweighed by almost 30 pounds.
Seven months removed from their first fight, Mitchell did better on June 22, 2013 by using his jab and not being baited into the same traps as before. Banks won the punch count, but most of his punches landed in the rounds he won. You talk about your head cases, entire rounds passed with Banks hardly throwing a punch.
The interesting co-feature
(R-L) Toshiaki Nishioka and Rafael Marquez exchange blows during their WBC super bantamweight title fight at the Marquee Ballroom in the MGM Grand Conference Center October 1, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
If you didn’t already know it, the 38 year old, 5’5” Rafael Márquez (born March 25, 1975 in Mexico City) fights orthodox and he’s a two division World Champion. On May 22, 2010, he fought another boxing great Israel Vazquez for the fourth time. The bout, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was appropriately titled “Once and Four All”. Márquez scored a third round TKO victory to even their series at two wins a piece.
From that date till now, Márquez has a record of 2 wins, three losses. The losses came to Cristian Mijares in his last bout on October 27, 2012, to Toshiaki Nishioka on October 1, 2011, and the third to Juan ManuelLopez on November 6, 2010.
Márquez, who comes from a strong boxing pedigree, is always entertaining. His older brother, Juan Manuel Marquez, the former WBA and IBF Featherweight World Champion, former WBC Jr. Lightweight World Champ, and current WBA, WBO lineal Lightweight World Champ, is scheduled to face Timothy Bradley on October 12th.
The people of Thompson Boxing Promotions still have high expectations for their 30 year-old Jr. featherweight Efrain Esquivias.
Rafael’s opponent, Efrain Esquivias, lives in Carson, CA. He’s also 5’5” tall but eight years younger. His most notable wins? None to speak of. On June 23, 2012, he lost a mixed decision to Rico Ramos, and on September 21, 2012, he lost an unanimous decision to Jhonathan Romero. In his last outing, a no-contest on June 28, 2013, he banged heads with Victor Sanchez and the fight was stopped. At the time Esquivias was ahead on all score cards. Since this will be Esquivias’ biggest fight ever, he will come prepared.
This show is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Corona Beer. The doubleheader will be televised live on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. PT. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first punch beginning thrown at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets, priced at $105, $75, $55, $45, $35 are available at the Fantasy Springs Box Office or by calling (800) 827-2946 or going online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
