Williams, Arreola Successful on HBO

Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 11.29.2008

Middleweight Paul Williams and Heavyweight Chris Arreola headline in seperate fights at the new Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA.

ONTARIO, CA - The first ever boxing match at the new Citizens Business Bank Arena took place on Saturday, November 29 in Ontario, California.

Former welterweight Paul Williams made his second journey to the middleweight division in the nights main event, facing veteran Verno Phillips for the interim WBO light middleweight title.

Williams had a six inch height advantage over the smaller Phillips. A clash of heads left Williams with a cut over his right eye after the first round. Williams asserted himself in the second round with blistering shots, but Phillips fought relentlessly and lunged in on the taller Williams, who's cut worsened over his eye. Williams wore down the still game Phillips with an impressive head to body attack, and was ahead in scoring heading into the middle rounds.

The onslaught continued from Williams, as the South Carolina native upped his punch output with great results, as Phillips was forced to survive the round and no longer jumped inside on Williams, and got punched into the ropes on many occasions. The fight was stopped after the eighth round by a ring side physician, who sought to end the punishment Phillips was receiving. Williams, (36-1, 27 KO's) has now knocked out his last three opponents.

The semi-main featured Riverside native Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola, who is undefeated and dons the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight belt. Arreola faced NABO Heavyweight champion Travis Walker, and in addition to their respective belts, the fight was also an IBF Heavyweight elimination bout. The 250 pound giants wasted little time in getting started, as Walker started first and set up big right hands to win the opening round. Walker scored a knockdown early in the second round, and Arreola continued to be rocked until he sent Walker down on a big right hand. Walker was sent down again, and barely survived the second round, which saw three knockdowns.

The crowd was on their feet for the third round, in which Arreola dominated and sent Walker down for the final time off a left hand, and referee Jack Reiss waved off the bout at 0:13 of the third.

Arreola jumped on all four corners in celebration, and later addressed the crowd in an in the ring interview with HBO's Max Kellerman. Kellerman asked Arroela if he thinks he's ready to take on either Klitschko brothers for a major heavyweight belt.

"What do you guys think?", Arreola asked the crowd, who cheered on the talented Mexican fighter.

If a match evolves to fight Vitaly or Wladimir, (Klitschko) and Arreola is victorious, he would become the first world Heavyweight champion of Mexican descent.

Riverside, California's Josesito Lopez set the night with a win over journeyman Alex Perez. Lopez, (23-3, 14 KO) landed earl y and often against the smaller Perez, using a highly effective jab to set up big punches to the head and body. The local boxer scored a knockdown in round two, and later stopped Perez with an impressive finish. Referee Wayne Hedgepeth stopped the bout at 2:36 in the second round.

Heavyweights Teke Oruh and Manuel Quezada fought a spirited bout in which both boxers were willing to exchange from the outset. Oruh was rocked on occasion when Quezada would set up a big right hand from his jab. Quezada ended the fourth round with a flurry to the body, as Oruh showed signs of fatigue and became an easy target for the charging Quezada. Both fighters faded in the late rounds, mostly clinching and holding with the occasional exchange. Quezada was the busier of the two, earning a unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 98-92.

Mike Dallas, (6-0, 1 KO) used an array of punches, mixing up straight hands and uppercuts to outshine Jose Alfredo Lugo. Dallas fought composed, dictating the pace of the fight and unloading on Lugo when permissible. Lugo was rocked many times by Dallas, but was willing to exchange on both the outside and inside in an action packed bout. The fifth round saw both boxers on the receiving end of punishing exchanges, first Lugo was able to back Dallas up, then Dallas turned it on with a flurry of his own to end the round.

The sixth and final round turned into a war, with both boxers going toe to toe in attempts of a stoppage in the see saw battle. The fight went the distance, and was scored a majority draw as judges Lou Filipo and Jose Cobian scored it 57-57, while judge Jack Reiss had it 58-56 for Dallas.

Olympian David Estrada made his professional debut against Washington D.C.'s Lawrence Jones.

Estrada, a Los Angeles resident, received a resounding ovation from the crowd and attacked first in the opening seconds with a flurry, and wasted no time in knocking out Jones, sending him to the canvas after a series of unanswered punches. Jones went down, and referee Wayne Hedgepeth automatically waved off the bout at 1:00 of the opening stanza.