Los Angeles, CA (May 16, 2011) – Southern California heavyweight star Chris “The
Nightmare” Arreola (31-2, 27 KOs) will make a quick return to the ring when he
faces 28-year-old Kendrick “The Apostle” Releford (22-14-2, 10 KOs) of Fort Worth,
Texas, in a 10-round main event on Friday, May 27, at the world-class 6,000-seat
Reno Events Center operated by the Reno-Sparks Convention Visitors Authority and
televised LIVE on ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Goossen Tutor Promotions will present the televised doubleheader of heavyweight
championship boxing billed as “Blame It On Reno, ESPN Style.” The main event of
the ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” telecast was originally scheduled to feature Josesito
Lopez (29-3, 17 KOs) in his first championship defense of his NABF Light Welterweight
Title against “Showtime” Steve Upsher Chambers (23-1-1, 6 KOs).
An injured knuckle by Lopez has forced the postponement of the fight.
The co-feature – in association with Boxing 360 – will remain a scheduled 12-round
IBF Heavyweight Championship Elimination bout matching former Heavyweight World
Title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (35-2, 23 KOs) against newly crowned
USBA Heavyweight Champion Maurice “Sugar Mo” Harris (24-14-2, 10 KOs).
Last Saturday, May 14, a newly slimmed-down and focused Arreola once again put on
a power-punching display as he recorded a third-round knockout against Nagy Aguilera
at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on the undercard of the Andre Ward-Arthur
Abraham Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic Semifinal. After the fight, Arreola
told reporters he hoped to get another fight soon.
“It’s only my second fight back since being serious,” Arreola said on Saturday.
“I’ll be back in the gym, back to work on Tuesday. I need another fight fast just
to stay focused on what I need to do.”
After learning his wish was granted by promoter Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions
on Monday, Arreola said: “I didn’t think twice when Henry (Ramirez) told me the
possibility of going right back into the ring in Reno. I’ve got one objective in
my career now – train, fight and win.”
“It’s always unfortunate when a main event fighter gets hurt, but in this case,
the fans are the real winners having Chris accept this challenge on such short notice,”
Goossen said. “He’s everything you would want in a heavyweight world contender,
he loves to fight.”
In the former WBO Latino Heavyweight Champion Releford, the 30-year-old Arreola
will face an experienced fighter with a rich family history in boxing. Releford
is trained by his father Kenneth Releford who won several amateur titles, including
the Fort Worth (Texas) Golden Gloves. Releford’s three uncles – George Releford,
Anthony Releford and Vincent Releford – also had noteworthy amateur careers.
Doors open at 4 p.m. with the first bout at 5 pm. The first ESPN televised bout
is set for 9 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the May 27 boxing card at the Reno Events Center are priced at $100,
$59.50 and $29.50 (General Admission). Tickets may be purchased at Reno Events
Center, Eldorado and Silver Legacy’s Ticket Offices, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000
and on line at www.ticketmaster.com.