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.”
