By Rey Colon

Veteran Puerto Rican heavyweight Fres "Fast Fres" Oquendo received some good news at the start of the new year. The World Boxing Association (WBA) has promoted him to the fifth position in the world rankings. Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko is the WBA's super champion at the weight, while Russia's Alexander Povetkin is the regular champion. Klitschko and Povetkin have been ordered to face each other in the coming months.

Oquendo, 39 and a record of 35-7 with 23 KO's, was inactive two years before returning in 2012 and winning all three of his fights - including one where he won the vacant WBA Fedelatin title with a ninth-round TKO tof Joey Abell, and that earned him a number six ranking - until earlier today when he was bumped up to the fifth spot.

Oquendo will return on the 15th of February against an opponent to be determined (TBA) at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.