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08/23/2006 Archived Entry: "Fres Oquendo Speaks Out on the Upcoming Toney-Peter Match"
Fres Oquendo Speaks Out on the Upcoming Toney-Peter Match
Story and photo by Juan C. Ayllon
Fres Oquendo and his son, Fres, Jr., at his son's football practice
CARROLL STREAM, Ill. - Speaking from the sidelines of his son's football league practice, heavyweight contender Fres Oquendo has something to say about the upcoming heavyweight bout between James "Lights Out" Toney and Samuel "The Nigerian Nightmare" Peter on September 2nd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Oquendo, 26-3 with 16 knockouts, is trained by Freddie Roach, who also trains Toney.
Commenting on who he sees winning this bout, Oquendo said, “I don’t know, ‘cause I spoke to my coach the other day, Freddie Roach, and he told me, ‘James Toney, he should be training a little harder than he is now.’
So, I don’t know what he means by that, but, stylistic wise, I mean, Toney comes in there the shape and weight he was for Holyfield, I’ll give the fight to Toney. But if he goes in there fighting like the way he fought Hassim Rahman, out of shape for his frame, I think Samuel Peter might stop him.
So, it’s going to be very interesting, because James Toney’s a master boxer, a great technician and Samuel Peter’s just a big monster throwing haymakers. So, it’s going to be a very interesting match-up. I give the edge to Toney at the moment, but I’ve got to say, if he’s not in great condition, I’m giving the fight to Samuel Peter.”
Asked if he'd ever sparred with James Toney, Oquendo said, “I never sparred with him. I don’t know, Toney, he was at my last fight when I fought one of his protégés, Javier Mora, he had as his chief sparring partner, which I gave him a butt-kicking. He was sad for his buddy. But, when he gets in there [with me], he’ll get his little butt whipped, too!" [Laughs].
On a sidenote, Fres Oquendo plans on returning to Freddie Roach's gym in Hollywood around September 6th to begin training camp. However, until then, he’s staying in shape. He said, “I’m maintaining right now at JABB [Boxing] Gym. I train three times a week at JABB, weight train at the West Loop Gym in the Chicago downtown area, [and] I do my little running at North Avenue Beach to Montrose and back. So, I’m maintaining while I’m here in Chicago.”
