After what seems like years of stops and starts, Manuel Charr has been ordered to defend his secondary WBA Heavyweight title against Fres Oquendo, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Although VADA and the WBA had reason to assume that Charr did not intend to have a representative attend the opening and testing of the B sample, Charr claims that his requests regarding the B sample testing were not acknowledged,” the WBA wrote in its resolution, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN. “Regardless of the disputes over communications and notice, Charr did not have a representative attend the B sample testing. Charr provided a third sample to VADA on Sept. 29, 2018, and the sample tested negative, according to a VADA communication of Nov. 6 2018.”

“Because of the lapse of time since the taking of the A and B samples and the communication issues alleged by Charr, the suspension is recalled,” the WBA wrote. However, the lifting of the suspension was subject to certain conditions.

“As the exclusive co-promoters of Fres Oquendo, Square Ring and Hitz Boxing intend to comply with the WBA resolution, and as we already have an agreement in place with the Charr camp and the money is already in escrow in the United States, the only thing we need to do now is set the date and the site of the fight,” Square Ring promoter John Wirt told ESPN on Monday night.

The WBA Heavyweight title bout between Manuel Charr and Fres Oquendo is off after Charr tested positve for a banned substance, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“This letter is to advise you that Mr. Manual Charr’s ‘A’ sample urine specimen number 4256987 collected on August 31, 2018 in Cologne, Germany through his participation in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) program has been analyzed for anabolic agents, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, stimulants, IRMS, EPO, and drugs of abuse. The results of the analysis are as follows: Adverse. Urine specimen number 4256987: epitrenbolone and drostanolone metabolites detected,” VADA said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.

“The message came that I tested positive. My manager, Christian Hunter, and my promoter, Bernd Trendelburg, have cancelled the fight without informing me before or contacting me. I am very disappointed in this approach,” Charr said in a statement. “I can’t explain the result, but I will do anything to solve it. I am now waiting for the result of the ‘B’ sample and I have once again undergone an independent and voluntary doping test. The results are expected to be published on Saturday.

“I have always been clean in all the fighting, and I can therefore definitely not explain how this result. I’m in shock myself, dear fans, especially as I’m in the final (stages) of the fight preparation. The defense of the championship has been my life for months. I am preparing for this fight with great discipline. During my (training) I take various supplements. It will be examined whether the food supplements may have influenced the doping sample.”

“The WBA should do the right thing and crown me champion,” Oquendo said in a statement provided to ESPN. “I shouldn’t be punished for something I’m doing right, which is not cheating.”

“We have read reports that Charr’s promoter has canceled the fight following Charr’s positive doping test. Except for the VADA letter, we have not heard anything official,” Square Ring CEO John Wirt, who co-promotes Oquendo with Bobby Hitz, told ESPN. “Obviously, if the fight is canceled it will be another injustice in a long line of huge disappointments in Fres’ path to fight for the WBA (‘regular’) heavyweight title.”

Deerfield Beach, FL (August 10, 2018)—Representatives have Manuel Charr and Fres Oquendo have informed representatives of Don King Productions that “there is no litigation” and they will fight for the WBA Heavyweight Championship. Pat English and John Wirt, representing both fighters have stated that there is no litigation and the WBA title fight is on.

The sanctioned interim WBA Heavyweight Championship will still be on the line Saturday night as Trevor Bryan and B. J. Flores square off at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, AZ it was announced by promoter Don King.

The 28-year-old Bryan (19-0, 13 KOs), who hails from Schenectady, NY has his eyes on the interim world title as he returns to the ring Saturday night following stopping Francois Russell in the third round in his last fight on Dec. 15, 2017. Flores, who hails from Chandler, AZ is 34-3-1 with 21 KOs. He last fought at the Celebrity Theater on June 24, 2017 and won a unanimous decision over Nick Guivas.

Tickets for the Celebrity Theater’s night of boxing are on sale at www.ironboy.com or at the box office. Tickets are priced at $30, $40, $60 and $100. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Celebrity Theater is located at 440 N. 32nd St. in Phoenix.

CHICAGO, IL (October 12, 2017) – Bobby Hitz, the President of Hitz Boxing and co-promoter of Fres Oquendo, together with Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions, came out swinging this morning after reading reports that the Manuel Charr vs. Alexander Ustinov bout that is being announced for November 25, 2017 in Germany will be for the WBA Heavyweight Title. “We have received the personal assurance from Gilberto Mendoza, President of the WBA, that Charr vs. Ustinov will not be for the WBA championship, but rather will be an elimination bout for the right to fight Fres for the title,” Hitz said.

“I’m not sure what bill of goods Malte [Muller-Michaelis] sold Charr’s financial backer, Christian Jaeger, but if Jaeger believed a guy whose testimony in our Federal lawsuit their own lawyers conceded was not creditable, I guess he’ll figure out soon enough who he is dealing with,” Hitz continued. “It’s ridiculous if you really think about it. Fres was supposed to fight Briggs for the WBA title in June. Briggs tested dirty and was suspended by the WBA. The WBA resolution anticipated this and provided that if Briggs tested dirty, Fres was to fight Ustinov next. There is just no way that after winning in U.S. Federal court and after Briggs tested positive and that fight was cancelled due to no fault of Fres, who tested clean, that the WBA would punish Fres and deny him his shot at the title. That Jaeger drank the Kool-Aid that Charr would be fighting Ustinov for the title before Fres’ shot just blows my mind.”

“In fact, just last week, our team’s attorney sued last Briggs and his promoter, the Heavyweight Factory, over the cancellation of Fres’ fight against Briggs,” Hitz said. “We have demonstrated our commitment to Fres and to protecting his legal rights. Mendoza is smart and a lawyer himself. He is not going to expose the WBA over this.”

“In the past two years since winning our Federal lawsuit, between Hitz Boxing and our partner Square Ring, we have promoted well over 20 events and could have promoted a bout for Fres on any one of them, but didn’t because we didn’t want to make Fres ‘unavailable’ and lose his shot. Now that Ustinov and Charr have decided to fight each other and are ‘unavailable,’ we will be petitioning the WBA to designate a new opponent for Fres to fight for the title. We have some things in the works which we hope to announce soon.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs was suspended for 6 months by the WBA for a failed PED test in the lead up to his title bout with Fres Oquendo

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs tested positive for a banned substance in the lead up to his June 3rd WBA title fight with Fres Oquendo and now the fight is cancelled.
On Saturday, Dr. Margaret Goodman, president of the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which was overseeing drug testing for the bout as part of the WBA’s Fair Boxing Program, sent those involved a letter disclosing that Briggs’ urine sample collected in Hollywood, Florida, on May 14 — and analyzed on May 16 at the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory in Los Angeles — had come back with elevated levels of testosterone.

According to Goodman’s letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, Briggs’ A sample was “analyzed for anabolic agents, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, metabolic modulators, GHRP, hormones and related substances” and that there was an “atypical” finding: his testosterone to epitestosterone ratio was 7.89 to 1. That far exceeds the allowable threshold of 4 to 1 under World Anti-Doping Agency standards.
The Oquendo camp pushed for VADA testing when the fight was being negotiated, but according to a source with knowledge of the testing situation, the Briggs camp balked at first before finally agreeing.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (May 1, 2017) – Two-time world heavyweight champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs and three-time title challenger Fres Oquendo will battle for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Backyard Brawl: Briggs vs. Oquendo taking place on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Doors open at 6 p.m. with first fight at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

One of boxing’s most popular and larger-than-life personalities who fights in its resurgent glamor division, Briggs’ self-made brand and boxing acumen has helped him land several world title fights since 1998. On June 3, the 45-year-old Briggs will bring a five-fight knockout streak into the ring as he attempts to make history by matching the likes of two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman. The oldest heavyweight champion ever, Foreman won his final heavyweight championship at the age of 45.

“Fighting for the WBA Heavyweight Championship against Fres Oquendo is a wonderful opportunity and true privilege,” said Briggs. “Being able to fight at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, in front of my hometown fans and right in my backyard is extremely exciting. I’m working very hard right now with some great sparring partners that are pushing me to the limit. Fight night will be a long one for Fres Oquendo. I want to dedicate this fight to my children, my family, all of my fans and to all of the people around the world who have suffered from depression. I’m living proof that you can make it. Don’t give up. LET’S GO CHAMP!”

Returning to the ring after a disputed defeat to Ruslan Chagaev in a 2014 title fight, Oquendo is co-promoted by future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions and Hitz Boxing as he looks to become the first heavyweight champion from Puerto Rico since John Ruiz in 2001.

“This will be a great fight between two veteran American fighters,” said Oquendo. “I’ve fought in Miami five times, plus, I train at the historic 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach, so I’m very comfortable here. The trials and tribulations I’ve encountered for 30 years in this sport and 20 as a professional, are finally coming to fruition. They say third time is the charm, but the fourth is the holy grail and the most special. I’m dedicating this fight to Jaxon King, my friend’s son who just passed away at five years of age. I’m also doing this for my mentor, Muhammad Ali. Winning his belt on the anniversary of his passing will be special. I’m going to borrow the belt for a bit and give it back when I’m done beating Shannon.”

Less than 30 miles from the Miami Beach Convention Center that hosted the 1964 Fight of the Year between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, Briggs and Oquendo will look to ignite the passions of the rabid boxing fans in South Florida as they seek a piece of the championship crown and move closer to the ultimate goal of unifying the heavyweight division.

“We’re extremely excited about bringing this WBA Heavyweight World Championship fight to Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,” said Kris Lawrence, founder of The Heavyweight Factory. “We’re really proud of Shannon Briggs, who has a chance to tie George Foreman’s record and become a champion for a third time. It is truly amazing for a heavyweight like Shannon to have lasted and preserved himself for so long. He was champion in two different decades. First in 1997 and then 2006. Now in 2017, he has the chance to do it again. We hope to see everyone coming out and supporting Shannon Briggs the night of the fight, as he is the ‘People’s Champ.’ LET’S GO CHAMP!”

Briggs has made South Florida his home and training camp for much of his career. He will be making his fourth start at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and his ninth in the state.

Representing the boxing hotbed of Brooklyn, Briggs (60-6-1, 53 KOs) seeks the third heavyweight world title in his long and eventful career. Briggs became a world champion in 2006 when he scored a 12th round stoppage of Siarhei Liakhovich. Briggs has faced the best heavyweights in the world and won the lineal heavyweight world title from George Foreman in 1997. He also defeated Ray Mercer in 2005, in addition to world title challenges of Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko. He enters this fight as the winner of his last nine contests, including eight knockouts and a 12-round decision over Raphael Zumbano Love.

Originally from Puerto Rico and fighting out of Chicago throughout his pro career, Oquendo (37-8, 24 KOs)looks to capitalize on his fourth opportunity and capture a world title. The slick-boxer has faced a slew of top heavyweights throughout his career, including narrow decision losses to Evander Holyfield and James Toney, plus title challenges of Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. The 44-year-old owns recent victories over Derric Rossy and Joey Abell in addition to triumphs over Clifford Etienne, David Izon and Javier Mora.

Briggs vs. Oquendo Fight Week promises to excite with week-long events that will lead up to this historic night. Among the boxing royalty invited to Fight Week and Fight Night are Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones Jr, Michael Moorer, Riddick Bowe and more.

Ticket prices are $75, $100, $150, $250 and $500; ringside seats are sold for $1,000; ringside tables with six seats are $5,500 and 10 seats are $11,000 (plus a $5 Facility Maintenance fee applies). All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.

About Hard Rock Live

Hard Rock Live, a spectacular state-of-the-art facility, further expands the ultimate entertainment experience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This 5,500-seat indoor arena has attracted more than 3 million people since its opening in 2005 and has regularly hosted South Florida’s greatest variety of musical acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Marc Anthony, Billy Joel, Andrea Bocelli, Tim McGraw and Carlos Santana; top comedians including Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Kathy Griffin and George Lopez; as well as major sporting events and events of major sports stars, from UFC matches to charity galas for Jason Taylor, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and more. For additional information, please visit www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com orwww.myhrl.com.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is South Florida’s iconic entertainment destination located minutes from Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach. The AAA Four Diamond-rated resort features 469 luxury guest rooms and suites, award-winning restaurants, a lagoon-style pool and Beach Club, a Hard Rock-inspired spa, premium meeting and convention space and a 5,500-seat Hard Rock Live concert arena. The casino offers more than 100 table games, 2,000 of the most popular slots and a stand-alone poker room.

Fine dining options include Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, the resort’s signature steakhouse, and Kuro, a luxe and socially vibrant restaurant offering new-style Japanese cuisine. In the heart of the hotel is L Bar, a sophisticated, contemporary lounge showcasing handcrafted classic cocktails with a twist. Contemporary and casual eateries, include Blue Plate, the hotel’s 24-hour diner-inspired restaurant; Constant Grind, a gourmet coffee and pastry shop; and the ever-famous Hard Rock Cafe – Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 174 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll restaurants.

For more information, call 800-937-0010, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, or follow us on Facebook: @SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly

Pensacola, FL—Square Ring Promotions and Hitz Entertainment Corporation announced today that they have reached an agreement for the Fres Oquendo vs. Shannon Briggs fight for the WBA World Heavyweight Championship.

“We are really excited that we were able to reach an agreement with Kris Lawrence and Henry Rivalta of the Heavyweight Factory,” said John Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions. “It was a long process and a difficult negotiation, but the good news is that Fres will now have the chance to finally win the WBA Heavyweight crown. I want to thank Gilberto Mendoza, George Martinez and everyone else at the WBA for this great opportunity.”
“Fres is in fantastic shape and he is focused on winning this bout like I have never seen before,” said Bobby Hitz, President of Hitz Boxing. “I met with him today and watched him spar and he looked awesome. His preparation is second to none and I predict it is going to be a great fight.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former world heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs will take on Fres Oquendo for the WBA Heavyweight title.

No date or venue has been announced.

Heavyweight Fres Oquendo injured his shoulder that will force him to postpone his October 17 rematch with Ruslan Chagaev in Germany, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“He injured his shoulder sparring, which has been confirmed by an MRI,” Square Ring CEO John Wirt, Oquendo’s co-promoter with Bobby Hitz, told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

“Technically, (it is) a likely anterior labral tear. I haven’t heard yet how long he’s going to be out, but I have been hearing that surgery may be required. It’s really unfortunate because he was in fantastic shape and we were a little over a week from flying to Germany.”

This Saturday (July 11th) WBA World Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev will defend his title against Francesco Pianeta. The winner will not have a lot of time to enjoy his victory. The World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered two mandatories for the old or new Champion after exceptionally allowing Chagaev a voluntary defense one year after the “White Tyson” won the vacant title in Grozny by majority decision over Fres Oquendo.

Oquendo will get another shot at the belt within 120 days of the Chagaev vs. Pianeta bout. The winner of that fight will have to face no. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Lucas Browne. “Ruslan will be very busy in the next months”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev (Akhmat Promotion / Terek Box Event) who is convinced that Chagaev will still be the Champion at the end of the ordered fights. “Of course, we believe that he will beat Pianeta, Oquendo and Browne. It might very well be that we promote all three fights before the end of the year.”

Ulf Steinforth is optimistic that his fighter Francesco Pianeta will become the first German after legendary Max Schmeling to win the World Heavyweight Championship. “Francesco is well prepared and ready for this huge fight”, states Steinforth. “Being the Champion is not only an honor, it also means a big responsibility. So we will, of course, follow all orders by the WBA in case Francesco brings home the belt. But to be honest we are not thinking too much about that right now. We are fully focused on Saturday night and the big event.”

World Champion Ruslan Chagaev is ready to face every contender anyways: “I will defend my title against whoever crosses my way. I don’t care who my opponent is – if it’s Pianeta, Oquendo, Browne, Wilder, Fury or Klitschko. I respect every opponent but I am not ducking anybody. Right now all that counts is the Pianeta fight. We can talk about everything else after that.”
The WBA World Heavyweight Championship between Chagaev and Pianeta headlines a card billed as “Heavy Night” in Magdeburg promoted by Timur Dugazaev (Akhmat Promotion / Terek Box Event) and Ulf Steinforth (SES Sport Events Steinforth) on July 11th at GETEC Arena.

One year ago Ruslan Chagaev won the WBA World Heavyweight Champion for the second time after 2007 by beating Fres Oquendo. At age 36, the “White Tyson” who is promoted by Akhmat Promotions and TEREK Box-Event feel rejuvenated and is far from thinking about retirement.

“I am in great shape! I haven’t felt this good in years – I feel like in my mid-20s”, says Chagaev who is currently preparing for his title defense against Francesco Pianeta on July 11th at GETEC Arena in Magedburg (Germany). “I am looking forward to finally getting back into the ring. After almost a year break, I’m hungry and want to show my fans what I can do. I’m sorry for Francesco Pianeta that he’s facing me precisely at this stage in my career. He doesn’t stand a chance. He won’t know what hit him.”
There are multiple reasons why Chagaev hasn’t returned to the ring since winning the WBA championship last July. Right after beating Oquendo in Grozny, the Uzbek native hooked up with German trainer legend Fritz Sdunek who passed away unexpectedly last December. “I still can’t believe that Fritz is no longer with us”, states Chagaev. “His passing was a shock for the whole boxing world and especially for me and my whole team. It still hurts. We miss him a lot. But his spirit will be with us in the gym forever.”
It took a while before Chagaev found a new trainer who he fully trusts. In the meantime he joined forces with former Cuban national coach Pedro Diaz who is also known as “boxing professor”. “Pedro is an extraordinary coach. He knows everything about this sport. Even at my age I learned some new tricks and moves from him.”
The team was in training camp in Miami for eight weeks before returning to Germany for sparring to make sure that Chagaev will be at his best when he faces Pianeta. Sat.1 will broadcast the show on July 11th labeled as “Heavy Night” live in Germany. Tickets for the event in Magdeburg starting at 26,- Euros can be purchased online via www.tickethall.de or www.eventim.de.

NEW YORK, NY (May 22, 2015) – Square Ring Promotions and Hitz Boxing announced today that District Court Judge Ronnie Abrams for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a 41-page final opinion and order in Oquendo vs. Terek Box Event (Case no. 14-cv-9835) awarding Oquendo damages and interest in excess of $800,000 against Chagaev’s promoter, Terek Box Event, and a permanent injunction enjoining Terek from, among other things, “promoting or managing Ruslan Chagaev in any bout for the World Boxing Association (“WBA”) World Heavyweight Championship or in any bout at which his WBA championship would be at stake, other than such a bout between Fres Oquendo and Mr. Chagaev.”

On May 12, 2015, Chagaev participated in a press conference with Rafael Pianeta to announce a bout on July 11, 2015 at the GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, Germany for the WBA World Championship. On May 14, 2015, the Court issued an order for Terek to show cause why it should not be held in contempt of court for violating the Court’s preliminary injunction prohibiting Terek from promoting or managing Chagaev in a WBA title bout other than a rematch with Oquendo. The contempt of court proceedings are scheduled to be heard on June 4, 2015.

“We have provided a copy of the Court’s final decision to the WBA and its counsel and are awaiting the WBA’s public announcement on this matter,” said John Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions. “The U.S. Federal Court has unambiguously spoken and issued a well-reasoned opinion in upholding Oquendo’s contract for a $1 million purse and his right to a rematch with Chagaev, and we are confident that the WBA will do the right thing and respect the Court’s decision on this matter.”

“I’m very happy that we now have a final court decision that shows what we have been telling the world for months,” said Bobby Hitz, President of Hitz Boxing. “Oquendo made sacrifices and went to Grozny when his wife and newborn baby were sick. He performed his end of the deal; now it is time for Chagaev and his promoter to honor the agreement and pay Oquendo his purse and give him the rematch he was promised. The WBA can no longer turn a blind eye and must now step in and bar the Chagaev vs. Pianeta fight.”

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for this great victory in my career through the courts and for finally getting justice,” said Fres Oquendo. “I’ve been hard at work training and getting ready for my rematch for the WBA title. Thanks to everyone and all my fans who have been so supportive of me and my family during all of this. And a very big thank you to my attorneys, Judd Burstein and Peter Schalk for believing in me and winning this case.”

“It’s been 10 years since Fres and I embarked on a journey to win the heavyweight championship of the world,” said Tom Tsatas, Oquendo’s long-time advisor. “We have been laughed at. Cheated. Ripped off. Knocked down. And we are still standing. We finally have people who believed in us, fought for us, and like us, are not quitters but rather champions of what’s right. This is a win for Fres, for the underdog, for the U.S., for the little guy, and for boxing. Never give up no matter who you’re up against. If God is with you, who can be against you?”

NEW YORK, NY (May 7, 2015) – The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Judge Ronnie Abrams) issued a Temporary Restraining Order yesterday enjoining Ruslan Chagaev’s Promoter, Terek Box Event, from “commencing or continuing any legal action in Moscow, Russia with respect to the July 6, 2014 bout for the WBA World Heavyweight Championship between [Fres Oquendo] and Ruslan Chagaev.”

On April 7, 2015, the Court had issued a preliminary injunction after a full trial on the merits enjoining Terek Box Event from “promoting or managing Ruslan Chagaev in any bout for the World Boxing Association (“WBA”) World Heavyweight Championship, unless Mr. Chagaev first shall have defended his WBA heavyweight title against Fres Oquendo or vacated the WBA title.”

Subsequently, on April 17, 2015, Timur Dugazaev, the principal of Terek, issued a press release stating “I don’t know how Oquendo can sue me in New York . . . Actually, I sue him in Moscow for returning the purse as stated in the contract.”

In response, Oquendo’s attorneys, Judd Burstein and Peter Schalk, sought an “anti-suit” injunction to stop Terek from trying to circumvent the Court’s preliminary injunction. In issuing this rare type of relief, the Court stated that it failed “to see how the Moscow action could be anything but vexatious. From the beginning of this case, [Terek] has shown a marked disregard for basic rules. * * * A new action in Moscow thus appears to be a transparent attempt to frustrate [Oquendo’s] ability to seek relief to which this Court has already ruled he is likely entitled.” The Court also stated “the Court’s decision on the merits is forthcoming.”

NEW YORK, NY (April 18, 2015) – Ruslan Chagaev’s promoter, Terek Box Event and its principal Timur Dugazaev issued a press release yesterday in which Dugazaev stated that “there will be no rematch between Chagaev and [Fres] Oquendo” and that “actually, I sue [Oquendo] in Moscow for returning the purse as stated in the contract.”

On April 7, 2015, District Court Judge Ronnie Abrams of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Oquendo vs. Terek Box Event (Case no. 14-cv-9835) preliminarily enjoined Terek Box Event from “promoting or managing Ruslan Chagaev in any bout for the World Boxing Association (“WBA”) World Heavyweight Championship, unless Mr. Chagaev first shall have defended his WBA heavyweight title against Fres Oquendo or vacated the WBA title.”

In response to the press release, Fres Oquendo’s lawyer, Judd Burstein, has requested a conference with Judge Abrams for permission to make a motion to have the Court appoint a private prosecutor to go after Terek and Dugazaev for criminal contempt — which can lead to six months in jail – due to their “openly and contemptuously flouting [the Court’s] preliminary injunction.” Burstein is also seeking a TRO barring Terek “from commencing or continuing a litigation in Moscow that, in essence, asks a Russian Court to invalidate the preliminary injunction that the Court has issued.”

In yesterday’s release, Dugazaev states that “According to the bout agreement the jurisdiction regarding this fight is in Moscow. In addition to that Oquendo received the full agreed purse of $225,000.”

What Dugazaev fails to mention is that in order to induce Oquendo to leave his sick wife and newborn child and travel to Chechnya for a fight he was not mentally or physically prepared for, the earlier bout agreement Dugazaev referred to was replaced with a new bout agreement with a $1 million purse, a rematch clause and a clause designating New York courts for disputes.

Although Terek at first claimed that it never signed the $1 million bout agreement, during the trial, Terek’s lawyer, Richard Simon, subsequently conceded that it had been:

21 THE COURT: Let me ask you one more question. Are you

22 conceding the validity of the July [$1 million] contract?

23 MR. SIMON: What we’re doing is we’re saying that

24 whoever signed that, I mean, Malte [Muller Michaelis] or somebody in his presence

25 had signed it and returned it, I’m saying that to the extent

1 that they could bind Terek, it would be a contract between

2 Terek and the plaintiff [Fres Oquendo].

Fres Oquendo’s team responded today to Timur Dugazaev’s press release that was ghost written by Malte Muller Michaelis trying to justify the non-payment of Oquendo’s purse based on an allegedly positive drug test by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA). “People in the sport need to know that this guy, Timur Dugazaev, can’t speak a word of English yet he has his co-hort Malte make up all these quotes and lies. They are both wannabes in boxing and Timur is only a servant to President Kadyrov from whom he pilfered Oquendo’s purse money. I suspect that once all of this comes to light, both he and Malte will be called to task. Their story is nothing but a ploy to try and justify their keeping Fres’ money and lying to the President.”

“The stuff that happened to us over there is really unbelievable,” continued Tsatas. “Timur orchestrated the kidnapping of Oquendo to forcibly take him back to the arena from the hospital to make him take the RUSADA drug test against his will. Fres’ trainer was threatened in an elevator that if Fres knocked out Chagaev none of us would leave Grozny (which by the way, is a worry that also concerned Gilberto Mendoza regarding the WBA judges). Timur then tried to extort money from us after our passports supposedly went ‘missing’ at the airport while the aircraft was on the runway about to take off. No, this is not a scene from the movie Argo or some cold war spy novel, but what our team actually experienced during our 3 days there. These facts are backed up by not just me, but also Oquendo himself, John Wirt, long time CEO of Square Ring Promotions, George Hernandez who is a well-respected boxing trainer and Vietnam Veteran, Dino Spencer, who co-owns the 5th St Gym with me and was a student of Angelo Dundee and Nate Jones who is a US Olympic Bronze medalist and Floyd Mayweather’s co-trainer.”

“Yesterday, Dugazaev put out a press release accusing Oquendo of testing positive,” said Tsatas. “What Oquendo ‘supposedly’ tested positive for are two women breast cancer drugs. Not steroids. Not testosterone and not masking agents. So let’s be clear. We vehemently deny the accuracy of the RUSADA results and have filed a protest with the WBA and are requesting a full impartial panel hearing under Article 8 of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code. Furthermore, we had Fres tested here in the US by the same company that does the testing for most of the Boxing Commissions in the US and even had his second sample sent to the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing lab in Utah and everything has been negative, including for these alleged breast cancer drugs. This was done in response to a Skype text message Fres’ promoter received shortly after the fight that had been leaked by RUSADA and that warned that Oquendo had tested positive. This leak of confidential information alone constitutes a breach by RUSADA of the WADA Code and irrefutably proves that RUSADA and the people working for it cannot be trusted.”

Tom Tsatas went on to say, “we have contacted President Kadyrov and requested him to intervene to correct these injustices. He was very pleasant towards Fres when we were in Grozny and even joked by pointing to Fres’ and Ruslan’s faces and stating that it looked like Fres was the guy who won. In fairness, his government put on a spectacular promotion and he was very hospitable to us and even invited Fres to the Presidential Palace after the fight, but the boxing side of things which was run by Dugazaev and Michaelis was deplorable and the fact that they have not paid Fres his purse or respected the rematch clause in the written contract they signed despicable. The boxing community needs to know and be forewarned about dealing with these two. I have all the voice messages, threatening emails, contract and damning information on Terek Boxing and Dugazaev and Michaelis, and all of this will come out in the lawsuit being filed in December. They duped us into going to save their own asses because in truth Fres really was not mentally ready for the fight because of his sick wife and newborn child and he wanted them to postpone the fight, as was his contractual right, but they refused. Instead, to induce us to go, they increased Fres’ purse and offered him a rematch if he lost and we were the suckers who believed their fraud. Well, we intend to get the last word and will see what a jury of our peers thinks about all of this.”

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Dugazaev’s announcement four and half months after the fight took place that RUSADA allegedly found that Oquendo tested positive but only a week after we finally went public that Fres’ $1 million purse had not been paid is nothing more than pure BS,” said Bobby Hitz, President and Founder of Hitz Boxing, the co-promoter of Fres Oquendo. “The truth is that we objected to RUSADA testing because we knew RUSADA could not be trusted. The guys at USADA told us as much and that’s why we had Fres tested by the USADA lab which was negative. But none of this should be a surprise since even WADA suspended RUSADA just last November right before the Sochi Olympics for too many false positives. The bottom line is that the promoter forced Fres to take the RUSADA test against his will.”
“But what is really troubling to me and what I am having a really hard time understanding is that we provided concrete proof to the WBA that RUSADA violated the WADA Code in connection with Oquendo’s testing and we’ve proved that the RUSADA people cannot be trusted,” Hitz continued. “And we also protested the fight with the WBA and established that Chagaev’s team violated the WBA rules by permitting Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov to climb up onto the ring apron between rounds to coach Chagaev. I don’t mean any disrespect to President Kadyrov but Timur and Malte are so clueless they probably don’t even know this rule and they obviously did not tell the President since I understand that Kadyrov is an honorable man and would not have knowingly violated the WBA rules. But honestly, what kind of level playing field was there when the country’s sitting president gets to publicly coach and encourage his fighter for the three ‘impartial’ WBA judges to see? Can you imagine what kind of hoopla that would make if the fight had been in Washington and Obama was in Fres’ corner coaching him? For the life of me I don’t understand what the WBA is thinking and why they are putting their heads in the sand on this one.”
“There are already two pending lawsuits in Chicago over this fight and this is just the beginning,” said Hitz. “We intend to request a hearing before the WBA under Article 8 of the WADA Code and there will be other lawsuits filed shortly to address these injustices, unless President Kadyrov and the WBA make this thing right.”

As confirmed by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) ring veteran Fres Oquendo tested positive for the prohibited substances tamoxifin and anastrozole at the mandatory test taken after his WBA world heavyweight championship fight against Ruslan Chagaev on July 6th in Grozny (Russia). Oquendo now faces a suspension and will have to pay back his purse according to the bout agreement.

“We will donate that money to a charitable foundation”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev. “The whole circumstances surrounding the fight were very strange. Oquendo refused to travel to Grozny and didn’t show up for the official press conference and public workout. He then asked us to postpone the fight when the ring was already set up. His positive doping test now explains this behaviour. He probably thought that he couldn’t be convicted at a later time. Finally Oquendo and his team tried to blackmail us and ask for more money. And three months after the fight – probably after being informed about the positive testing – they came up with ridiculous claims and spoke badly about Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov and Andrey Ryabinsky even though both men had done their best to make sure that Oquendo and his team had a great time in Grozny. Ramzan Kadyrov and Andrey Ryabinsky are men of honor. To talk about them the way Oquendo’s team did is just disgusting and another proof for their bad character.”
Oquendo also publicly demanded a rematch – a claim that has to be dismissed, of course, after his positive doping test. “Even though it was a close and competitive fight Ruslan Chagaev won fair and square and deserved the decision win. So there has never been a reason for a rematch”, adds Dugazaev. “Now that we know that Oquendo is a cheater there will certainly not be a second chance for him. Doping has no place in professional boxing!”
Maybe the suspension will even end the career of 41-year-old Oquendo. In the meantime WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev has started preparation for his first title defense of his second reign which is supposed to take place in early 2015 in Germany. Details regarding the exact date and opponent will be announced soon.

CHICAGO — November 12, 2014 — Fres Oquendo’s wife and newborn were in the hospital when he boarded a plane to Grozny, Russia in July to take on Ruslan Chagaev for the WBA Heavyweight title – a fight that was slated to take place just 36 hours after his arrival. For his troubles, Oquendo was guaranteed a purse of $1 million dollars and a rematch within 120 days in the event that he lost.

“The only reason I even left my wife and newborn child was because [Chechnyan] President Ramzan Kadyrov and Andre Rabinsky both personally called and guaranteed my safety, a rematch and the $1,000,000 to take care of my family,” said Oquendo. “They literally begged me to go even though I had no sleep, had not worked out in 2 weeks and literally got there an hour before the weigh in.” Rabinsky guaranteed an additional $100,000, per the promoter, when travel plans didn’t go as expected.

Oquendo did indeed lose the fight, in a controversial majority decision, and has since not been paid the purse he agreed to with Rabinsky and Kadyrov – a purse that was secured by the fight contract. Hitz Boxing and Square Ring Promotions have also not been paid the agreed upon promotional fee. “We’ve seen reports this week that Chagaev is looking for an opponent,” said Bobby Hitz, founder and promoter of Hitz Boxing. He’s got an opponent. His opponent is Fres Oquendo. The WBA should make sure this fight happens. It is what both guys agreed to before the fight. The WBA needs to help make sure that Fres gets paid, and that he gets his rematch.”

There were a number of irregularities during the match that Hitz feels the WBA needs to address. “We filed a protest with the WBA in August. What was the Chechnyan President doing climbing up on the apron between rounds to coach Chagaev? That’s blatantly against WBA rules. Rounds were cut short. There was no commission. The whole thing was a farce,” said Hitz.

Hitz continued, “All of this is on paper. We’ve got a lawsuit ready to be filed in the Southern District of New York, naming the WBA, Chagaev’s promoter, Timur Dugazaev, and Malte Mueller-Michaelis, who orchestrated the bout, unless all of this gets resolved. The lawsuit against Dugazaev, Mueller-Michaelis and the WBA will include several charges, including breach of contract and tortuous interference. These parties have employed various delay tactics. We’ve heard excuses ranging from religious holidays, to vacations, to the political climate and everything in between. Enough is enough. We can no longer leave this unresolved, especially since it appears that they are trying to overlook us for the rematch that we’re entitled to, and they are contractually bound to provide.”

When he realized that he had really done it again, former heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev went down to his knees on Sunday night at Ahmat Arena in Grozny, Russia. It was legendary Michael Buffer who announced Chagaev’s close but well deserved majority decision win (115:113, 115:113, 114:114) over Fres Oquendo which earned the 35-year-old Uzbek the WBA heavyweight championship for the second time in his career.

No other but Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was the first to congratulate Chagaev in the ring. While the fight lasted Kadyrov even took charge as chief second coaching “his” champion in the corner. It was the leader of the Chechen Republic who brought this world title fight to Grozny along with promoter Timur Dugazaev (TEREK Box Event). Accordingly Chagaev thanked the President for all his help and support.

“Words cannot express my gratitude to Ramzan Kadyrov for giving me this opportunity. I also want to thank all people of Grozny, Chechnya, Russia, Uzbekisten, Germany and the whole world. This is one of the greatest moments of my life”, said Chagaev immediately after the fight in the ring.

To get to this moment the former world amateur champion had to work his way through twelve tough and close rounds. Chicago based Oquendo showed great stamina – especially given the fact that he arrived in Grozny only 36 hours before the big fight due to personal circumstances. Chagaev started strong and won the first rounds before a cut opened over his left eye and slowed him down.

Oquendo took advantage and managed to steal the middle rounds but Chagaev’s corner with Artur Grigorian and experienced champion coach Fritz Sdunek as cutman managed to stop the bleeding giving Chagaev the chance to bring home the close but clear victory.

In the co-feature “The Black Panther” Juan Carlos Gomez stopped previously unbeaten Goran Delic in the fifth to win the vacant WBA international cruiserweight championship. German heavyweight contender Edmund Gerber came back from a loss to Dereck Chisora with an impressive second-round annihilation of Mexico’s Vicente Sandez to claim the WBC Silver international heavyweight title.

30,000+ fans at sold out Ahmat Arena witnessed a state of the art show. “I have been all over the world and have seen many great shows – but this was the biggest and best event of them all”, said impressed hall-of-fame-referee Stanley Christodoulou. Michael Buffer added, “This show really set new standards. Everybody involved in the promotion did a great job.”

Fres Oquendo finally made his eagerly anticipated arrival to Grozny, Chechnya (Russia) today just in time for the official weigh-in. Due to health issues of his family back at home in Chicago, the Puerto Rican veteran had missed two flights to Russia over the last week causing countless rumors of possible replacements for his WBA world heavyweight championship against local fan favorite Ruslan Chagaev scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday, July 6th).

In the end Oquendo decided not to let down promoter Timur Dugazaev and Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who put a lot of personal effort in bringing this big fight to Grozny and take the last possible flight from Chicago via Warsaw to the capital of Chechnya in order to save the fight. Oquendo and his team were welcomed very warmly by many fans, journalists and political leaders who followed them to the official weigh-in ceremony shortly after their arrival.

“The Big O” brought 101.9 kg (224.5 lbs) to the scale while Chagaev weighed in a lot heavier at 111.7 kg (246 lbs). Both men were in the range of their average weight for the last couple of fights. In the co-feature Juan Carlos Gomez (89.3 kg / 197 lbs) will take on unbeaten Goran Delic (89.1 kg / 196.5 lbs) for the vacant WBA international cruiserweight championship.

There has been lots of confusion over the last couple of days regarding this Sunday’s (July 6th) WBA world heavyweight championship bout between Ruslan Chagaev and Fres Oquendo in Grozny. Rumors said that the fight was off after Oquendo failing to board his plane to Russia twice due to family issues. Possible replacements such as former world champion Shannon Briggs, WBA #9 rated contender Alexander Ustinov and former WBA international champion Alexander Petkovic were waiting in line to jump in as last-minute replacements to get a title shot.

But now they all know that they will have to wait for their opportunity. Because Oquendo and his team finally boarded the plane to leave Chicago today to make it to Grozny in time for the weigh-in. “The fight has never been officially off”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev. “We were always hoping that Fres Oquendo would be able to make it. We understand that he was facing some serious problems over the last week with close family members getting sick and having to go to hospital. But still he will keep his word, fulfill his contract and take his chance to become heavyweight champion of the world.”

Oquendo repeatedly asked for another postponement of the fight which war originally scheduled for June 7th and had already been pushed back for four weeks because of contractual issues between Oquendo and his former promoters. “All those problems haven been solved”, adds Dugazaev. “The last days have been a true war of nerves. We had to cancel TV and photo shootings, the press conference and a public workout. But the most important thing is that the big show can still go on. We could not postpone the event because we have prepared everything in 30,000 seat Ahmat Arena. And we have all the celebrities here who actually arrived before our main event fighter. Now I am just happy that we’re good to go.”

Dugazaev also emphasized that he was never to keen to replace Oquendo with another co-challenger. “You have to understand that the whole city of Grozny is full of 50 feet high posters and banners with Oquendo’s face and name on it”, states Dugazaev. “How should I have explained to people that the guy in the ring is not the guy on all the advertisement? I’m glad that I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Although it also made us proud that so many good fighters would have accepted the bout on short notice. That shows that we cannot have done everything wrong.”

Chagaev vs. Oquendo is the main event of a show that also features German heavyweight contender Edmund Gerber taking on Vicente Sandez from Mexico for the WBC Silver international heavyweight championship and former world champion Juan Carlos Gomez facing unbeaten Goran Delic for the WBA international cruiserweight title. The show will be broadcasted live in over 100 countries worldwide with Michael Buffer being the ring announcer for the main event.

Most eyes will, of course, be on Ruslan Chagaev and Fres Oquendo on July 6th in Grozny when the two ring veterans meet for the vacant WBA world heayvweight championship. But there is another big name in the co-feature who wants to get back to old stardom: “The Black Panther” Juan Carlos Gomez faces unbeaten Goran Delic for the WBA International cruiserweight title.

“I am looking forward to this big fight and especially to fighting in Grozny”, says Gomez. “I heard only good things about the city and the people down there. I know that I have lots of friends and fans in Russia. So this will be a special night for me.”

“The Black Panther” has a lot in common with the two main event fighters Chagaev and Oquendo: They were all excellent amateurs before making their pro debuts back in the 90s. Chagaev and Gomez have even been stablemates for most of their careers at Universum Box-Promotion in Hamburg, Germany, and became world champions in their respective divisions. The Cuban defector won the WBC cruiserweight championship in 1998, while Chagaev crowned himself WBA world heavyweight champion by beating “Russian Giant” Nikolay Valuev in 2007.

“It’s great to fight on the same card as Ruslan again”, states Gomez. “We go back a long, long time and I have always liked and respected him a lot. I also know Fres who is a Latino just like me. Both guys are excellent boxers and I am sure that this will be a great fight. But I have to focus on my own job – and that’s Goran Delic.”

To get back on track in the cruiserweight division after an unsuccessful run at heavyweight between 2002 and 2012 which led him to a world title shot against Vitali Klitschko which he clearly lost, Gomez has to get passed a guy like Delic. But the unbeaten Bosnian (24-0) is looking for the biggest win of his career so far in order to get into position for a world title shot.

Adds Gomez, “Like every unbeaten fighter Delic will do whatever it takes to defend his ‘0’. But I got bad news for him: The ‘Black Panther’ is hungry and will eat up that ‘0’. After this fight he finally knows what losing feels like.”

Gomez has always been very self-confident – and he never changed his mantra over the years: “On July 6th in Grozny, I will continue my successful comeback at cruiserweight and show the world that whenever and wherever the ‘Black Panther’ enters the ring… IT’S SHOWTIME!”

Chicago, IL (June 26, 2014) A high stakes game of Russian Roulette is scheduled for next Tuesday, July 1, before Judge Kathleen Kennedy at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago as to the fate of the World Boxing Association (‘WBA’) WBA Heavyweight Championship fight between Fres Oquendo and Ruslan Chagaev. Hitz Boxing and Square Ring Promotions are seeking an injunction against Oquendo to enjoin his participation in the bout.

“Our legal team filed a series of papers today and there will be a hearing next Tuesday here in Chicago,” said Bobby Hitz, President of Hitz Boxing. “We know that Fres and his team are leaving on Saturday for Russia, but if Judge Kennedy grants our motion for a TRO, which we are advised that there is a very strong chance, Fres will be in contempt of court if he goes forward with the fight. ”

“The WBA is now also named in the lawsuit. So if we do get the TRO and the WBA lets this fight happen, there will be some serious consequences for it,” stated Hitz.

“I read with interest today the articles about President Kadyrov sparring with Chagaev. Now that’s my kind of President,” continued Hitz. “He obviously respects fighters and must have guts to get in the ring even to spar with a guy as talented as Ruslan. As a former fighter myself, I only wish President Kadyrov would respect our contractual rights and honor the deal that his people made with us, so we can end this game of Russian Roulette and let this fight happen.”

Former world heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev is wrapping up training camp for his July 6th WBA world championship bout against Puerto Rican veteran Fres Oquendo on Grozny, Russia. The “White Tyson” has done most of his preparation in the Chechen capital training not only with head coach Artur Grigorian and his manager Timur Dugazaev but also with a “political heavyweight”: Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who is a huge boxing fan and used to be a decent amateur fighter himself.

Kadyrov is one of the main factors of the world title fight landing in Chechnya. The President and his government support the promotion and are turning Grozny into a huge boxing ring for the event. “We have 50 feet high posters and banners all over the city plus huge sandbags, ring ropes between streetlights and many other spectacular advertisements”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev. “This will be the biggest boxing show in the world. We have Michael Buffer coming in as ring announcer and I am pretty sure that even he will say that he has never seen anything like that – despite his 30 years experience and all the huge Klitschko shows he worked on.”

While the city is being decorated for the big event, President Kadyrov himself enters the ring with Chagaev to do a couple of sparring rounds and give “his” champion important advise. “I may not be the best boxer in the world but I know where you have to hit somebody”, says Kadyrov with a smile. Chagaev was born in Uzbekistan but has been “adopted” by the Chechen government until their own fighters will be ready to fight for world championships.

Ruslan Chagaev held the WBA heavyweight title after dethroning “Russian giant” Nikolay Valuev back in 2007 and actually never lost the belt in the ring. “They just took the championship from me and now I am taking it back”, says Chagaev. Following his title reign the 35-year-old southpaw lost to Wladimir Klitschko (in June 2009) and Alexander Povetkin (in August 2011) but is now on a five fights winning streak which brought him back to the no. 3 spot in the WBA world rankings with the chance to fight no. 4 rated Fres Oquendo for the vacant title.

His opponent “Fast” Fres Oquendo is one of the most experienced heavyweight contenders in the world. More than ten years ago “The Big O” challenger John Ruiz for the WBA championship. Even before that he suffered a controversial decision loss to IBF titlist Chris Byrd. “I should have been world champion back then. Now I finally get another chance and I will not let it pass”, states Oquendo.

On the undercard former WBC cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez will take on unbeaten Bosnian Goran Delic and German heavyweight prospect Edmund Gerber faces Mexico’s Vicente Sandez for the WBC Silver International championship. Chagaev vs. Oquendo will be broadcasted live in about 100 countries worldwide. Former world champions Evander Holyfield, Lamon Brewster and David Haye are expected to attend the event at 30,000 seat Ahmat Arena as VIP guests along with actor Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal.

Chicago, IL (June 21, 2014) With an announced date of Sunday, JULY 6 for a planned World Boxing Association (‘WBA’) “Regular” Heavyweight Title bout between Chicago’s Fres Oquendo and Ruslan Chagaev in Grozny, Russia, Chicago based promoter Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing and his partner Square Ring Promotions have filed a lawsuit to protect their exclusive promotional rights in regards to Oquendo.

From his office in Chicago, Hitz discussed the legal situation at length, “A couple of days after the fight was postponed to July 6, we were contacted by Malte Müller-Michaelis who advised Square Ring and us that he represented Timur Dugazaev and Terek Box Event and that they had been directed by the governmental authorities in Grozny to negotiate a deal with us,” said Hitz. “We did negotiate a deal and were advised that the financial terms had been agreed upon. After that, they went completely dark on us in regards to signing the paperwork.”

“We tried through some back channels to reach the authorities in Grozny and sought assistance from the WBA, but essentially our rights continue to be disrespected and so yesterday, we filed a lawsuit to protect our rights. Hitz Boxing and Square Ring worked long and hard to get this title shot for Fres and while it is what we wanted for Fres, we are not going to sit idly by while our rights are disrespected. Everyone involved in this fight can expect a much bigger battle in the courts.”

“Hitz Boxing and Square Ring Promotions have an exclusive promotional contract with Fres Oquendo and the filing of this lawsuit illustrates our intent to have our rights upheld.”

Sporting a record of 37-7-0 with 24 knockouts, Oquendo is currently ranked #6 by the WBA and has won five bouts in a row.

ABOUT HITZ BOXING
Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of the actuality show “Hitz Boxing,” a web series that has amassed over 5 million internet views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast” Fres Oquendo.

For more information, please visit: www.hitzboxing.com.

The regular WBA world heavyweight championship bout between Ruslan Chagaev and Fres Oquendo will now take place on July 6th in Grozny (Chechnya), Russia. Promoter Timur Dugazaev decided to move the date for four weeks to give all parties involved more time to get ready for this big event. The new date will be on a Sunday because there are no games of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil scheduled for that date in between the quarter- and semifinals.

“In consultation with the team of Fres Oquendo and the WBA, we had to put the fight back a bit”, said Dugazaev. “We are planning a mega event and want everything to be perfectly prepared. This also gives us more time to look after the invitations and visas to the many guests of honor.”

The VIP guest list includes former heavyweight champions David Haye, Lamon Brewster, Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. In addition to that action stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal are expected to attend the show in Grozny. The world championship bout will take place at the 30,000 seat Ahmat Arena.

“We are planning to set up the biggest boxing show the world has ever scene. It will be a huge production”, adds Dugazaev. The undercard of Chagaev vs. Oquendo features former WBC world cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez (taking on unbeaten Goran Delic) and German heavyweight prospect Edmund Gerber (vs. Vicente Sandez from Mexico).

Chicago, IL (May 20, 2014) Plans for a World Boxing Association (‘WBA’) “Regular” Heavyweight Title bout between Chicago’s Fres Oquendo and Ruslan Chagaev of Hamburg, Germany for Saturday, JUNE 7 in Grozny, Russia were addressed today by the Windy City’s leading boxing promoter, Bobby Hitz of Hitz Boxing.

“Along with Roy Jones’ Square Ring Promotions, Hitz Boxing has an exclusive promotional contract with Fres Oquendo” said Hitz. “The contract which we have, provided Fres the opportunity to stay active and continue his path towards becoming a world champion, a goal we set forth as a team when we signed him.”

“My understanding is this bout with Chagaev has been negotiated without our knowledge or input, a clear violation of the contract Hitz Boxing and Square Ring Promotions have with Fres.”

Continued Hitz, “At this point both of our entities, Hitz Boxing and Square Ring Promotions, will pursue legal remedies against all parties seeking to engage Fres Oquendo in this bout as they will be in tortious interference of our contract.”

Unfortunately as Hitz states, the pattern of Oquendo’s management team interfering in his role as a promoter has been a continual problem.

“This exact fight was previously approved by the WBA at their most recent convention with Hitz Boxing and Square Ring’s involvement, however when Fres’ manager entered him in the proposed World Boxing Council (‘WBC’) heavyweight tournament, the WBA refused to sanction this bout. All this while John Wirt of Square Ring was negotiating the WBA fight.”

“Fres should know that he will be in a much bigger legal fight before he gets in the ring if he and his manager continue down this path.”

Sporting a record of 37-7-0 with 24 knockouts, Oquendo is currently ranked #6 by the WBA and has won five bouts in a row.

ABOUT HITZ BOXING
Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of the actuality show “Hitz Boxing,” a web series that has amassed over 5 million internet views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast” Fres Oquendo.

For more information, please visit: www.hitzboxing.com.

Chicago, IL, Sunday, June 9, 2013–Reigning WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Champion “Fast” Fres Oquendo added both the NABA and WBC Silver Heavyweight titles to his resume on Saturday, June 8 as he beat hard working veteran Derric Rossy in front of an enthusiastic crowd of boxing fans during “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at Hammond, Indiana’s The Venue inside of the Horseshoe casino.

Before the fight Oquendo, who is vying for a shot at the world title, predicted an early round knockout of Rossy.

“I want to take my hat of to this kid who came to my home town and fought a good fight. I hurt him several rounds,” said Oqeundo. “I just want to thank the crowd, I came to win and I did.”

Rossy complimented Oquendo after the fight.

“I give the respect to Fres, he does what he needs to do to win,” said Rossy. “He is crafty he knows what his doing. I thought the fight was closer than what is was.”

Super Middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez beat veteran Richard “Bobo” Starnino by technical knock out. Starnino, who had boxing legend Vinny Paz in his corner, withstood Jimenez’s punishment for three rounds before giving in at the 1:22 mark of the 4th round of scheduled six bout.

Hometown favorite Frankie “Time Bomb” gave his fans an early scare as he hit the canvass in the opening seconds of his match with Reymundo “The Prosecutor” Hernandez, however he quickly recovered and scored a knockout of his opponent at 2:08 into the first round of scheduled four rounder.

RESULTS
Fight #1
Welterweight: Sukhrab Shidaev (3-0, 3 KOs) of Hollywood, CA by way of Grozny, Russia stops Anthony Willis of Battle Creek, MI (1-3-1) with a TKO at 1:22 in the 2nd round of fight scheduled for four rounds. Referee Kurt Spivey.

Fight #2
Super Flyweight: Johnny “Wite Boi” Determan (7-0, 6 KOs) of Omaha, NE knocked out Ryan Raglin (1-6, 1 KO) of Indianapolis, IN at 1:50 in the 1st round of a fight scheduled for four rounds. Referee Eric Fetzer.

Fight #3
Heavyweight: Nick Asberry (2-0, 2 KO) of Waukegan, IL stops Tim “Fat Boy” Dunn (0-2) of Manitowoc, WI with a TKO at 1:46 of the 2nd round of a fight scheduled for 4 rounds. Referee Kurt Spivey

Fight #4
Light Middleweight: Ricky Smith (1-1) of Green Bay, WI beats Chad McKinney (1-2) of Chicago in a majority four round decision. Referee Eric Fetzer.

Fight #5
Welterweight: Roy Navarro (2-0) of Chicago beats Clifford “The Magician” McPherson (2-14-1) of Cleveland, OH, in a majority four round decision. Referee Kurt Spivey.

Fight #6
Super Featherweight: Fidel Navarrete (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Highland, IN stops Adam Alvarez (0-4) of Lansing, MI, with a TKO at 0:01 into the 2nd round of a fight scheduled for four rounds. Referee Eric Fetzer

Fight #7
Heavyweight Title Bout: WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight “Fast” Fres Oquendo (36-7, 23 KOs) of Chicago beats Derric Rossy (28-7, 14 KOs) of Medford, NY in a 10 round unanimous decision. Oquendo defended his WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight title and claimed the vacant NABA and WBC Silver Heavyweight titles. Referee Kurt Spivey

Fight #8
Super Middleweight: Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (11-0, 8 KOs) of Chicago stops Richard “Bobo” Starnino (9-12-2), from Providence, RI, with a TKO at 1:22 into the 4th round of a fight scheduled for six rounds. Referee Eric Fetzer

Fight #9
Light Welterweight: Genaro Mendez of Chicago (6-1-1, 4 KOs) stops Antoine Elerson of Milwaukee, WI (1-6, 1 KO) with at 0:01 into the 3rd round of a fight scheduled for four rounds. Referee Kurt Spivey

Fight #10
Lightweight: Russell “Rocky” Fiore of Chicago (9-2, 7 KOs) knocked out Reggie “Two Gun” Nash (10-32-1) of Grand Rapids, MI, at 2:33 into the 2nd round of a fight scheduled for four rounds. Referee Eric Fetzer

Fight #11
Lightweight: Frank “Time Bomb” Scalise 7-1, 7 KO’s) of Chicago knocked out Reymundo “The Prosecutor” Hernandez (6-14, 6 KOs of Atchison, KS,at 2:08 into the 2nd round of a fight scheduled for four rounds. Referee Kurt Spivey

Fight #12
Light Heavyweight: Simon “The Punisher” Buettner (4-0) of Carpentersville, IL beats Cameron Allen (4-13, 2 KOs) of Battle Creek, MI, in a four round unanimous decision. Referee Eric Fetzer.

Hammond, IN, Saturday, June 8, 2013–Regardless who wins the title bout between Fres Oquendo of Chicago, IL and Derric Rossy of Medford, NY the WBA Fedelatin, vacant NABA and WBC Silver Heavyweight belts will be in the hands of a Puerto Rican American. As the two men faced off during Friday’s weigh-in in advance of tonight’s “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” presented by Bobby Hitz, the room was buzzing in anticipation. Tickets are available at the Horseshoe box office and the fight is available via a Ustream PPV webcast ($9.99) at HitzBoxing.com.

Oquendo (35-7, 23 KOs), who is ranked fifth in the world, currently holds the WBA Fedelatin title, while both the NABA and WBC Silver belts are vacant.

“He is just another opponent. I am going to knock Derric Rossy out in the second or third round,” predicted Oquendo who weighed in at 226 pounds.

Rossy (28-6, 14KOs), who is fresh off of a victory of Travis Walker, has won three of his last four fights. He appeared confident and relaxed. He savored the opportunity pull off an upset and win all three belts.

“I’m feeling really good. I look forward to picking up three belts, its going to be a good fight,” said Rossy who weighed in at 239 pounds.

Oquendo is hoping for a shot at the world title and at 40 years old a loss to a very hungry Rossy, who is eight years his junior at 32, could derail those plans.

“Fres is on track and he looks good, but Rossy is impressive and could pull and upset,” said Hitz. “I am really looking forward to this fight. The fans are in for a treat.”

Rossy has sparred with impressive Polish heavyweight Tomasz Adamek who has recently been rumored to be a future Oquendo opponent.

Oquendo was born in Puerto Rico, while Rossy, who was born in the United States is of Puerto Rican descent.

Chicago, IL, Tuesday June 4, 2013–Bobby Hitz announced that Saturday night’s “Fight Night at the Horseshoe”, featuring WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight Champion “Fast” Fres Oqendo defending his title, as well as vying for the vacant NABA Heavyweight belt, against Derric Rossy, will be offered live on the Internet via Ustream. The webcast will be hosted by middleweight contender Donovan “Da Bomb” George and Craig Miller of 670 The Score, CBS Radio in Chicago. Dynamic super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez and equally exciting lightweight Frankie “Time Bomb” Scalise are the co-features for the card which will be held on June 8, at 7:30 PM at the The Venue inside of Hammond, Indiana’s Horseshoe Casino. Tickets start at $40.00 and are available at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or The Venue box office. The Ustream webcast, which can be purchased for $9.99 via PayPal, can be found at HitzBoxing.com.

“The excitement for the title bout and the rest of the card is amazing. The pay per view webcast allows us to reach fans who can’t make it, especially for our fighters who are from out of town,” said Hitz. “I look forward to working with Donovan and Craig.”

The match ups are as follows (all fights are subject to change)

Super Flyweight: Johnny “Wite Boi” Determan (6-0, 5 KOs) of Omaha, NE vs. Ryan Raglin (1-5, 1 KO) of Indianapolis, IN. Six rounds.

Super Featherweight: Fidel Navarrete (0-0-1) of Highland, IN vs. Adam Alvarez (0-3) of Lansing, MI. Four rounds.

Lightweight: Russell “Rocky” Fiore of Chicago (8-2, 6 KOs) vs. Reggie “Two Gun” Nash of Grand Rapids, MI, a veteran of 42 fights). Four rounds.

Lightweight: Frank “Time Bomb” Scalise 6-1, 6 KO’s) of Chicago vs Reymundo “The Prosecutor” Hernandez of Atchison, KS, a veteran of 19 professional fights. Four rounds.

Light Middleweight: Chad McKinney (1-1) of Chicago vs Ricky Smith (0-1) of Green Bay, WI. Four rounds.

Super Middleweight: Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (10-0, 7 KOs) of Chicago vs Mike “Bobo” Starnino, from Providence, RI, a veteran of 20 professional fights. Six rounds

Light Welterweight: Genaro Mendez of Chicago (5-1-1, 3 KOs) vs Antoine Elerson of Milwaukee, WI (1-5, 1 KO). Four rounds.

Welterweight: Roy Navarro (1-0) of Chicago vs Clifford “The Magician” McPherson of Cleveland, OH, a veteran of 15 professional fights. Four rounds.

Light Heavyweight: Simon “The Punisher” Buettner (3-0) of Carpentersville, IL vs Cameron Allen of Battle Creek, MI, a veteran of 16 fights. Four rounds.

Heavyweight Title Bout: WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight “Fast” Fres Oquendo (35-7, 23 KOs) of Chicago vs Derric Rossy (28-6, 14 KOs) of Medford, NY, 10 rounds. Both the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight title, currently held by Oquendo and the NABA Heavyweight title, which is currently vacant, will be awarded

Heavyweight: Nick Asberry (1-0, 1 KO) of Waukegan, IL vs Tim “Fat Boy” Dunn (0-1) of Manitowoc, WI. Four rounds.

Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of “Hitz Boxing,” a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 3 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast” Fres Oquendo.

The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.

For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.

Must be 21 years or older to gamble or attend events at The Venue. Know When To Stop Before You Start® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9WITH-IT © 2012 Caesars License Company, LLC.

The enigmatic British heavyweight Dereck Chisora will top a big British fight card LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on BoxNation on Saturday July 20th. Chisora’s opponent will be named shortly, but offers have been made to leading contenders Tyson Fury, Manuel Charr, Tomasz Adamek and Fres Oquendo.

Also featuring on the bill, unbeaten champions Frankie Gavin and Denton Vassell clash in a hotly anticipated domestic showdown with their British and Commonwealth titles and records on the line in what promises to be an explosive fight. One of the nation’s brightest up and comers Paul Butler, the current British and Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion, fights for the second time in three weeks and Ireland’s Gary O’Sullivan defends his WBO International Middleweight title for the first time.

PAUL SMITH V TONY DODSON MOVED TO JUNE 28TH
Paul Butler will also feature on Liverpool Olympia bill
BoxNation commentator Paul Smith returns to the ring when he takes on Merseyside rival Tony Dodson for the Vacant British Super-Middleweight title in this eagerly awaited rematch and Paul Butler’s Vacant WBO Intercontinental Super-Flyweight title challenge will now feature on a bumper Liverpool Olympia bill LIVE on BoxNation on June 28th.

SAUNDERS V RYDER WILL BE LIVE ON BOXNATION
Big hitting Saunders to face unbeaten Ryder in British title fight
British and Commonwealth Middleweight Champion, the dynamite fisted Billy Joe Saunders, faces one of his biggest tests so far as he’s challenged by the dangerous, 14-0 (8 KO) John Ryder. The date and venue are yet to be confirmed, but Queensberry Promotions have won the purse offer and we’re all set for another high octane British fight night on BoxNation!

Find out more about all these fights and see BoxNation’s growing summer schedule here.

It’s your channel. Be a part of it. Are you in?

Chicago, IL, Tuesday, May 21, 2013–WBA Latin American Heavyweight Champion “Fast” Fres Oqendo (35-7, 23 KOs) will defend his title as well as vie for the vacant NABA Heavyweight belt against Derric Rossy (28-6, 14 KOs) during the 10 round main event at “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 PM at the The Venue inside of Hammond, Indiana’s Horseshoe Casino. Dynamic super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (10-0, 7 KOs) and equally exciting lightweight Frankie “Time Bomb” Scalise (6-1, 6 KO’s) are the co-features for the evening. Tickets start at $40.00 and are available at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or The Venue box office.

“Fres is working hard to defend his WBA Latin American title and hopes to pick up the NABA belt,” said Hitz. “As he waits for his shot at the world title, a strong opponent like Derric Rossy will prove to be a worthy test.”

Oquendo is from Chicago, while Rossy hails from Medford, NY.

Supper middleweight Jimenez of Chicago, who remains undefeated after 10 fights, will face “King” David Thomas (10-4 8 KOs) of Evansville, IN in a six round bout. Comebacking lightweight Scalise, a proud product of Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, and Reymundo “The Prosecutor” Hernandez of Atchison, KS, a veteran of 19 professional fights, are scheduled to go four rounds.

Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of “Hitz Boxing,” a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 3 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast” Fres Oquendo.

The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.

For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.

Must be 21 years or older to gamble or attend events at The Venue. Know When To Stop Before You Start® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9WITH-IT © 2012 Caesars License Company, LLC.

Chicago, IL, Tuesday, May 7, 2013–Today Bobby Hitz announced that the next installment of “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” will feature four of Chicago’s most exciting boxers as WBA Latin American Heavyweight Champion “Fast” Fres Oqendo (35-7, 23 KOs), super middleweight Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez (10-0, 7 KOs), cruiserweight Dimar “Strongman” Ortuz (9-0, 6 KOs), lightweight Frankie “Time Bomb” Scalise (6-1, 6 KO’s) take to the ring at The Venue inside of Hammond, Indiana’s Horseshoe Casino on Saturday, June 8. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the actions begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets start at $40.00 and are available at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or The Venue box office.

“With Povetkin and the Klitschko brothers deciding to take other fights we wanted to get Fres in the ring and keep him busy until he gets his shot,” said Hitz. “He deserves a title bout but until that time comes we will continue working him against other fighters.”

Jimenez and Ortuz remain unbeaten, while Scalise is staging an impressive comeback. All are fan favorites.

“Chicago boxing fans are witnessing amazing undefeated streaks by Hollywood and Dimar. These two local fighters are quickly distinguishing themselves as ones to watch,” said Hitz. “Frankie’s electrifying comeback has been really special for all who are witnessing it. On June 8th all four of these local fighters will put on a great show.”

Hitz will announce the rest of the card on Monday, May 13.

Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of “Hitz Boxing,” a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 3 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast” Fres Oquendo. For more information visit hitzboxing.com

The $500 million Horseshoe Casino, a Caesars Entertainment Corporation property, just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago is the premier entertainment and gambling destination in Chicagoland. Where legendary gaming lives on, Horseshoe boasts more than 350,000 square feet with over 3,000 slot machines, over 100 table games, one of the largest poker rooms in the Midwest, and more. The Venue at Horseshoe Casino is proud to offer the ultimate concert and entertainment destination and premier experience in a flexible space that can hold up to 3,300 guests. Dining elegance is not overlooked and guests can choose from a variety of dining options including; Jack Binion’s Steak House which overlooks Lake Michigan and winner of the 2009, 2010, 2011 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and the May 2012 OpenTable Diners’ Choice award, around-the-globe variety at the Village Square Buffet, and a taste of Chicago at Benny’s Pub and Eatery.

For more information, please visit: www.chicagohorseshoe.com.

Must be 21 years or older to gamble or attend events at The Venue. Know When To Stop Before You Start® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-9WITH-IT © 2012 Caesars License Company, LLC.

Chicago Promoter Bobby Hitz refuses to take “no” for an answer regarding Fres Oquendo’s WBA heavyweight title shot against the Russian WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin.

“Yesterday, we put out a press release telling the truth, and today they are calling, begging us to tell a lie. But I’m not afraid to tell the world what is really going on,” said Hitz. “We were offered a heavyweight title fight against Povetkin a couple of weeks ago and we accepted Povetkin’s lowball offer because we know that Fres can knockout Povetkin. And it is absolutely true that Povetkin’s handlers informed us that they were going in a different direction, because after studying Fres they realized that Fres was too fast, too slick and too big a risk for Povetkin. Povetkin’s handlers told us themselves that they want an ‘easy’ opponent which is why they are now considering the unknown Polish fighter Andrzej Wawrzyk who has fought nobody.”

“After we put out our release, I got a call from a major boxing website saying that they were concerned that Povetkin’s promoter, Sauerland, would take action against them so they would not run the story. But truth is an absolute defense, so they can say or deny all they want, but here in the U.S., we have freedom of the press and I intend to exercise my God-given right,” Hitz continued.

“Today, I got a call from one of my associates that Povetkin’s handlers had called, begging me to shut up, that no decision had been made yet,” said Hitz. “Well I am not shutting up because a decision was already made. We were offered the fight, we accepted the fight, we had Fres sign a bout agreement for the fight and now they are chickening out because they realize they made a mistake in choosing Fres and have admitted to us they want an ‘easy’ opponent.”

“I’m told that Roy Jones, Jr. is very popular and highly respected in Russia,” Hitz continued. “Well Roy Jones and I are the co-promoters of Oquendo, and we both guarantee that Povetkin vs. Oquendo will be a great fight. So we are calling upon all the boxing fans in Russia to rise up and stop this injustice and make Povetkin and his handlers live up to their word so they get a real fight, not a Polish joke.”

ABOUT HITZ BOXING: Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest’s leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO’s as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the “Ramada Rumble,” held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular “Fight Night at the Horseshoe” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of “Hitz Boxing,” a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 3 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and “Fast Fres Oquendo.

“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.

“I’m seeing these newcomer kids talking about how they deserve to fight Klitschko. I haven’t lost a fight legitimately since 2006. In 2003, I had a world-title fight and lost an outrageous robbery against Chris Byrd. Byrd went on to lose the title that I should have won that night to Wladimir. So, if they hadn’t stolen my title from me that night, I would have already had a fight against Wladimir! Me getting the fight against Wladimir is boxing karma making things right.”

39-year-old Oquendo, who began his career in 1997, has won countless regional titles and is still stopping the opponents he’s supposed to stop. He took out capable veterans Robert Hawkins and Joey Abell in his two latest appearances.

“I’m still as sharp as I’ve ever been and I know how to get to Wladimir. I’ve been trying to get him in the ring for years because I see what you need to do to beat him. Plus, if you put my resume next to anybody else’s that they’re talking about it’s like a joke. Nobody else deserves this fight as much as I do. So let’s get it done, call my promoter, Bobby Hitz, so I can start training to go over there and kick his ass.”