[Previous entry: "Jakubowski, White Prevail in Sizzling Pre-Thanksgiving Showdown!"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "BERNARD HOPKINS TO JOIN OSCAR DE LA HOYA!"]
11/20/2004 Archived Entry: "Fres Oquendo Ready to Throw Hat into Ring with Heavyweight Titlists!"
Fres Oquendo Ready to Throw Hat into Ring with Heavyweight Titlists!
Fres Oquendo (left) at Ringside with Juan C. Ayllon Last Year
After watching from ringside last Saturday night in New York City's Madison Square Garden at the Don King Productions' Battle for Supremacy, "Fast" Fres Oquendo declared himself more than ready to get back in the mix towards a heavyweight world title shot.
"Next week I'm meeting with Don King down in Florida and I'll find out when and where my next fight is. It sounds like it will be in January but I'm not sure who its going to be against. For me, I'd like to fight either Byrd or Ruiz again, they both have major belts and I feel I could beat them."
Speaking about his very controversial decision loss to Chris Byrd on September 20th, 2003 for the IBF World Championship, Fres said, "it really wasn't that close of a fight, I won at least eight rounds, the TV people and all the press thought I won the fight going away. Even Chris was surprised with the decision."
In regard to his last fight with WBA title holder John Ruiz, which took place on April 17th 2004, he stated, "It was a very close fight and in the 11th round he did stagger me with a good punch but I felt it was stopped too quick, its a heavyweight championship bout, they could have let it continue."
Presently Fres is staying in shape in his home town of Chicago at JABB Boxing Gym, however he will leave for camp in a secluded area of California next week. "Whoever I'm going to be fighting its going to be a big fight for me. I need to stay in the win column and stay in the mix. There's lot of fights out there that could be made that I can win and get another shot at the title."
Concluded the Puerto Rican born Oquendo, "I wasn't supposed to beat Dokiwari in '99, wasn't supposed to beat Etienne in 2001 when he was the so-called baddest heavyweight and I destroyed him. Give me a shot at the title against any of these guys with the belts, Brewster, Klitschko, Ruiz or Byrd. I'm confident I can take the belts from any of them."
Photo courtesy of Edward Zajac
