Fres Oquendo: Ready, Willing, and Able to Fight Klitschko
 By Pavel Yakovlev, Doghouse Boxing (Feb 6, 2013) Photos © Joey Hill
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Fres
Oquendo is pondering his next move, and he hopes it will be a title
shot. Recently news broke that WBA, WBO, and IBF champion Vladimir
Klitschko will make an optional defense in April, and he needs a
challenger. Speculation abounds regarding who will be Klitschko's
opponent. Some people in boxing are arguing – quite persuasively,
in fact – that Oquendo should be chosen.
Currently
on a three fight winning streak, rated fifth worldwide by the WBA,
and holder of that organization's Fedlatin belt, Oquendo is amply
qualified to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.
With 16 years experience and 42 professional bouts underneath his
belt, Oquendo is one of the most ring savvy heavyweights active
today. Unquestionably, he has the skills, too: he's earned a
reputation as a slick, speedy, and elusive technician with a
jackhammer right hand. At age 39, Oquendo shows only minimal
deterioration physically and athletically. He can give Klitschko as
tough a fight as almost anyone else.
But will
Oquendo get a chance to fight Klitschko? Right now, that's an open
question. His manager Tom Tsatas recently contacted the Klitschko
camp about the possibility of making the match, but was politely
declined by Bernd Boente. The reason, as explained to Tsatas, is that
German television would not look favorably upon Oquendo's seven
losses. That most of those defeats were by controversial decision
matters little, apparently, to the television executives and
marketing specialists who must sell the fight to the European public.
Oquendo,
however, sees matters differently. “Klitschko's a great fighting
champion, I have respect for him,” he said. “But of all the
contenders out there, I'm the only one who has fought all the
stand-outs of the last generation, like Tua, Byrd, Ruiz, Toney, and
Holyfield. Most other heavyweights out there don't have that kind of
experience. I'm the last of the Mohicans...I would really like that
title shot.”
Tsatas
concurs. “Fres deserves that title fight more than anyone else,”
he said. “He has fought everyone, and has more rounds against top
fighters than any other heavyweight. Most of his losses were
controversial...bad decisions in fights that Fres really won. He is
easily the most qualified fighter to meet Klitschko.”
Chicago
promoter Bobby Hitz also argues that Oquendo should get the April
slot. “Fres is an ideal choice for that fight. Think about
it...he's not just a top contender; his status is practically that of
a former champion. That's because Fres was an uncrowned champ, a guy
who would have been champion if not for bad judging. I don't know why
the Germans aren't interested in having Fres; that doesn't make any
sense to me.”
Analysis
of Klitschko's fighting style, and at least one of his past fights,
suggests that – just possibly – he might have more trouble with
Oquendo than most realize. Klitschko depends on his jab to control
fights. Long, straight, and powerful, the champion's jab keeps foes
at bay, and sets up his pulverizing power punches. On those rare
occasions when Klitschko's jab has not consistently found its
target, he has had trouble scoring with his right. Against Calvin
Brock in 2006, for example, the challenger's tricky head movement and
awkward tactics frustrated Klitschko's jab for the better part of
five rounds. Of course, Klitschko won by devastating knockout in the
seventh, but still, he looked uncharacteristically awkward prior to
ending matters. Oquendo has studied that fight and believes he sees
potential vulnerabilities in the champion.
“Klitschko
needs that left jab to set-up his right hand, and I can take that jab
away from him,” observed Oquendo. “I would use movement and
defense to make him miss all night. After that, I'll come at him with
my right hand.” Indeed, Oquendo's unmarked face is evidence of his
defensive acumen: it shows no scar tissue or any traces of
punishment, even in spite of his nearly two decades in boxing. As for
the effectiveness of his right hand, Oquendo's 23 career knockouts
are proof that he can bang.
Meanwhile,
Oquendo is training hard at Miami Beach's Fifth Street Gym, preparing
for a possible Fedlatin title defense this month. In addition to
focusing on conditioning, he is fine-tuning his combination punching,
and working on his power. Interestingly, Oquendo is sparring often
with 6'7”, 240 lbs. Edwin Alvarez, who physically resembles
Klitschko. When asked if he picked Alvarez with Klitschko in mind,
Oquendo replied, “Look at it this way...I intend to be ready if we
get the phone call to fight Klitschko. I'm getting in the best shape
of my life.”
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