The CBZ Newswire

Fres Oquendo at right bides his time for another title shot (photo by Belle Ayllon)

CHICAGO — “No one deserves the Klitschko fight more than me,” says long-time heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo.

WBA #5 and WBA #12-rated Oquendo (35-7, 23 KOs) can make a strong case for being the next to face WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on April 6 in Hanover, Germany. (continue reading…)

By Kerstin Broockmann

Photos to be added later

HAMMOND, IN, August 18, 2012 — Hitz Boxing presented another Fight Night at the Horseshoe this evening at The Venue in Hammond. The evening’s bouts showcased the young and old(er) of Chicago’s boxing community, including a fight for the “over 40″ World Senior Boxing Council Championship between Middleweights Mike Kurzeja and Gerald Taylor. Headlining was Fres Oquendo, keeping busy in a bout Philadelphia’s Robert Hawkins. Undefeated Ghanaian Welterweight Abdullai Amidu (19-0) was unfortunately unable to make his Horseshoe Casino debut after his opponent withdrew too late to find a substitute. Local up-and-coming boxers Paul Littleton and Dimar Ortuz successfully stepped up against quality competition in crowd-pleasing wars, while more seasoned fighters David Martin III and Johnny Lewus found themselves in deeper waters than anticipated against opponents whose records belied their skills. Simon Buettner and Frank Scalise made short work of their hapless opponents. It was an evening of entertaining and occasionally explosive scraps.

Light Heavyweight Simon “The Punisher” Buettner (176 lbs) of Carpentersville, IL, entered the ring with a record of 1 win by knockout and no losses against Mukwonago, Wisconsin’s Mike “The Sandman” Reiter (172 lbs.), looking to get his first win after two losses. Buettner easily outclassed his older opponent, who, after a strong start, had no answers for Buettner’s sharper, harder punches. Buettner established himself behind the jab and quickly drove Reiter into the ropes, where a volley of body punches and hooks led to Reiter apparently taking a knee. Moments later, a right hook to the body, led to Reiter once again going down. He beat the count, only to find himself back on the ropes. Buettner continued the onslaught with hooks to the head and body shots, and a left hook buckled Reiter’s knees for the third time. Once again, Buettner attacked, driving his opponent to the ropes where another left hook dropped Reiter for the fourth and final time. Referee Kurt Spivey mercifully called a halt to the action at 2:16 of the first round, giving Buettner the TKO and improving his record to 2-0, 2 KOs. (continue reading…)

Ortuz (right) en route to stopping Francois Russell

Undefeated Chicago cruiserweight fighter Dimar “Strongman” Ortuz had all but forgotten his boxing career.

Since winning the Chicago Golden Gloves in 2002, Ortuz been away from the game for eight years, ballooned to 260 lbs, successfully battled a drinking problem and become a hard-working father of three. (continue reading…)

Fres Oquendo en route to stopping Joey Abell in May (photo by Belle Ayllon)

Hitz Boxing’s popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” series will return on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, featuring Chicago’s WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Champion and WBA #14 rated “Fast” Fres Oquendo (34-7, 22 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

Oquendo looked sharp stopping opponent Joey Abell last May. In addition to his current Fedelatin belt, the 39-year-old two-time heavyweight title challenger is a former NABF, NABA and USBA champion. (continue reading…)

Interview and Photo by Sam Geraci

Oquendo (left) poses with two of his amateur fighters at Chicago Fight Club, Rico Gonzalez and Devin Wittenberg

CHICAGO — Fresh off his impressive ninth round TKO of Joey Abell on May 25th, heavyweight contender “Fast” Fres Oquendo, took an hour from his busy schedule to sit down for an interview at Chicago Fight Club Gym (4834 N. Elston, Chicago, IL, 60630) to discuss boxing at age 39, PEDs, corruption in the sport, future opponents, his legacy, and his youth boxing academy.

Sam: Congrats on your May 25th 9th round TKO victory over Joey Abell. How did you feel in that fight as compared to earlier in your career?

Oquendo: Thanks. I’m healthier now than I was in my twenties for the simple fact that I’m doing everything right from the training and management to going all-natural with natural supplements from the earth and even alkaline water. I feel great. My body is healing itself.

Sam: In that fight I thought I saw a few wrinkles from B-Hop. In particular the straight right hand followed by the quick footwork after the right.

Oquendo: We both did some work down at the 5th Street Boxing Gym and of course you pick up something from a fighter with footwork like Bernard. That was some veteran footwork moves I used on the 25th. (continue reading…)