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By James Slater: “Fast” Fres Oquendo sounds an angry guy at present. The normally mild-mannered Puerto Rican, speaking on the web site of his promotional team Hitz Boxing, said he is sick of “doing the right things and getting the short end of the stick.”
The slick 38-year-old was referring to the countless bad decisions he has been the victim of, and Oquendo was also pointing a finger at those fighters who have chosen to avoid him over the years. Some fans may not like Oquendo’s ring style, yet practically everyone has to concede how the veteran is a talented operator: a fighter who has been shamelessly robbed on at least three occasions - his points “loss” to recent Wladimir Klitschko challenger Jean Marc Mormeck being the most blatant.
The fact that the Frenchman got a world title shot seems to be what has Oquendo, 33-7(22) all steamed up right now. But the contender says he will now call out the guys he wants to face, in the hope that his beating them will see to it that he gets a deserved shot of his own.
“From now on, I’m going to be calling guys out and making things happen on my own,” he said. “I’ll take Seth Mitchell, Chris Arreola. Any of them. Bring them on.”
But will either the established (possibly title shot-bound) Arreola or fast-rising hope Mitchell look Oquendo’s way? I think we can rule Arreola out, seeing as how world ruler Wladimir Klitschko has said he’d like to fight him, possibly in America, possible after he’s taken care of IBF mandatory Tony Thompson. No way would Arreola risk either a less than impressive showing against Oquendo, or worse still a possible points loss. “The Nightmare” isn’t stupid, and anyway, he’s worked hard in keeping himself active as he earns his second title crack.
Mitchell, unbeaten as he is, probably has the self belief that tells him he would beat Oquendo (or anyone else for that matter). His management, however, may steer him in another direction. Mitchell is a promising fighter of the highest order and he has great momentum going for him right now. The crafty Oquendo, with his bag of tricks and vast experience, would be too big a risk right now.
Unfortunately, “Fast” Fres finds himself in the “who needs him club?” Too risky a proposition, or too big a chance to take for too low a reward, Oquendo will likely have to continue doing things the hard way. The sport is far from fair at times; Fres Oquendo knows this better than just about any other active heavyweight.
The man who scored an 2nd-round DQ win over Travis Fulton the same night Mormeck was being destroyed by Klitschko may have to go through a number of fighters on a similar level; all the time hoping a big name takes a risk and gives him the break he deserves.
The slick 38-year-old was referring to the countless bad decisions he has been the victim of, and Oquendo was also pointing a finger at those fighters who have chosen to avoid him over the years. Some fans may not like Oquendo’s ring style, yet practically everyone has to concede how the veteran is a talented operator: a fighter who has been shamelessly robbed on at least three occasions - his points “loss” to recent Wladimir Klitschko challenger Jean Marc Mormeck being the most blatant.
The fact that the Frenchman got a world title shot seems to be what has Oquendo, 33-7(22) all steamed up right now. But the contender says he will now call out the guys he wants to face, in the hope that his beating them will see to it that he gets a deserved shot of his own.
“From now on, I’m going to be calling guys out and making things happen on my own,” he said. “I’ll take Seth Mitchell, Chris Arreola. Any of them. Bring them on.”
But will either the established (possibly title shot-bound) Arreola or fast-rising hope Mitchell look Oquendo’s way? I think we can rule Arreola out, seeing as how world ruler Wladimir Klitschko has said he’d like to fight him, possibly in America, possible after he’s taken care of IBF mandatory Tony Thompson. No way would Arreola risk either a less than impressive showing against Oquendo, or worse still a possible points loss. “The Nightmare” isn’t stupid, and anyway, he’s worked hard in keeping himself active as he earns his second title crack.
Mitchell, unbeaten as he is, probably has the self belief that tells him he would beat Oquendo (or anyone else for that matter). His management, however, may steer him in another direction. Mitchell is a promising fighter of the highest order and he has great momentum going for him right now. The crafty Oquendo, with his bag of tricks and vast experience, would be too big a risk right now.
Unfortunately, “Fast” Fres finds himself in the “who needs him club?” Too risky a proposition, or too big a chance to take for too low a reward, Oquendo will likely have to continue doing things the hard way. The sport is far from fair at times; Fres Oquendo knows this better than just about any other active heavyweight.
The man who scored an 2nd-round DQ win over Travis Fulton the same night Mormeck was being destroyed by Klitschko may have to go through a number of fighters on a similar level; all the time hoping a big name takes a risk and gives him the break he deserves.
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