Cristobal Arreola vs. Manuel Quezada (12 rounds, heavyweights)

The hometown favorite, heavyweight Cristobal "The Nightmare" Arreola (29 – 2, 25 KO’s) pulled out a gutty decision against Manuel “El Toro” Quezada (29-6, 18 KO’s) for WBC Mexican National Championship at the Ontario Citizens Bank Arena where he lost a decision to Tomasz Adamek on April 24, 2010.

In the aftermath of Cristobal Arreola’s loss, his commitment to his training was much talked about. His weight became the narrative that led to tonight’s fight in which he weighed in at 256lbs, and that continued as he took on Quezada in a fight that looked more like a glorified sparring session until it was revealed that Arreola fought with both hands hurt throughout the majority of the fight. The bout was the main event of an ESPN ‘Friday Night Fights” card.

The first round seemed to set the pace for a fight that lacked excitement. Both fighters began the back and forth action. Arreola set out to box and throw combinations in hopes of finding an opening and that would allow him to score knock down. On the other hand, Quezada began to pick his punches while aiming at his opponent’s body, an attempt to wear out his opponent.

The second round through the eigth round saw more of the same. The Nightmare pulled some solid combos together while Quezada picked his spots often landing soft jabs and hooks that had no chance of hurting Arreola. The sixth round saw Quezada’s activity pick up and that seemed to anger Arreola who continued to find ways to dominate. This theme would play out for the remainder of the fight.

The ninth round changed the trajectory of the fight and awoke the pro-Arreola crowd. Quezada exposed himself in an attempt to land more effective shots. Sticking with his game plan, Arreola continued to throw combinations that eventually created an opening for a damaging left uppercut that sent Quezada to the canvas. He then followed up with a clean left hook that sent Quezada to the floor for the second time in the round. Quezada managed to survive the round.

The tenth round was uneventful, but the 11th proved to be explosive and the only round that I would have scored for Quezada despite Arreola’s relentless aggression. The sparks continued to fly in the final round with the hometown fighter scoring another knockdown and proving that he was most skilled pugilist.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Arreola with one judge scoring the bout 117- 108 and the other two scoring the fight 118-107.

As I was walking out the Arena I had the opportunity to talk to Arreola. He let me know that he had fought with both hands hurt, pointing to his left hand which was completely swollen. I asked at what point he had hurt his left hand and he replied that he had damaged it during the second round. Knowing that Arreola fought with his left hand in such bad condition completely changes my perception of the bout and his performance. He dominated the fight, pressed the action (despite not being in the best shape), and stuck to his plan by setting up combos with his lead jabs which resulted in three knockdowns with both hands hurt. Tonight, the “Nightmare” pulled off a courageous display of talent and will.



Josesito Lopez vs. Marvin Cordova jr,( 8 rounds, welterweights)

Lopez Survives War!

In the televised opener Riverside's own Josesito Lopez (27-3, 15 KOs) stable mate of Cristobal Arreola, defeated Colorado’s Marvin "Much Too Much" Cordova, Jr. (21-2-1, 11 KO's) in an 8-round welterweight bout with on judge scoring the fight 77–74 and the other two judges scoring it 78-73.

Josesito Lopez was the obvious crowd favorite. With Cristobal Arreola’s trainer Henry Ramirez in his corner, Lopez was able to push Cordova, Jr. back against the ropes for most of the fight. He used superior boxing skills to land several vicious left hooks to the body eventually stunning his opponent in the first round.

But Cordova, Jr. who has a much publicized amateur pedigree, and has been in the ring against some formidable opposition which includes Golden Boy’s very own Victor Ortiz, was able to stay in the fight by sticking his jab two to three times at a time. This made for an interesting fight as Lopez began to control the middle rounds by repeatedly connecting with hard left hooks to the body followed by combinations up stairs.

The Sixth round saw Cordova, Jr. being reduced to backing up and jabbing at Lopez’s attack until the final seconds of the round where Cordova, Jr, hurt the hometown favorite with a well placed left hook to the body, followed by another. Lopez was forced to tie up as the round closed.

Lopez then sealed his victory by hitting Cordova, Jr. with a witty combo that knocked his opponent’s mouth piece to the floor in the 7th and surviving a grueling 8th round that saw Cordova, Jr. have a point deducted for a dubious low blow.



Shawn Estrada vs. Alex Armenta,( 4 rounds, super middleweights)

Estrada Dominates!

East Los Angeles’ very own Shawn Estrada (8-0,8 KO's) defeated Alex Armenta (7-2,6 KO's) in a crowd pleasing Super Middleweight bout that was over with a blink of an eye.

Alex Armenta looked far from an Adonis having come in at 173 lbs, several pounds over the super middleweight limit. His long lay-off must have something to do with his physic since he last stepped in the ring in August of 2001. Albeit, the few extra pounds did not seem to bother his chiseled counterpart who came in at a 166.25 lbs. Shawn Estrada seemed to intimidate Armenta from the moment they stepped on the scales and posed for the traditional stair down which proved prophetic as the 2008 Olympian made quick work of the under matched Armenta with a violent stoppage in the first round.