Fight Night at Pechanga:

By Steve Galindo III

   Boxing’s Chicano movement is in full swing, and tonight three of La Raza’s top stars will be bringing their talents to the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula for an exciting night of boxing that will be showcased on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights (beginning at 7 p.m.). From top to bottom, Promoter Dan Goossen has managed to put-forth an excellent card that has a little something for everybody. It is a line-up that features three of the heaviest hitters in his Goossen Tutor Promotional stable: Cristobal Arreola, John Molina Jr., and Shawn Estrada- all have the potential to produce a night of knockouts. “What a way to kick off our first show on American soil in 2011 by presenting Southern California boxing fans with a talented array of locally-based fighters,” Goossen said. “Shawn Estrada continues his progression from outstanding amateur and Olympic Team member to a potential world contender. John Molina, Jr. is on the precipice of a world title shot.” What make tonight’s fights so intriguing is that all three Southern California based fighters are on the cusp of stardom. Each are coming off of impressive wins, and all are looking to build on a solid 2010. Despite the fact that Arreola, Molina, and Estrada will be squaring off against virtual unknowns, tonight’s bouts are crucial to the development of each fighter. Both Arreola and Molina are a fight or two away from competing for a world title, while Shawn Estrada is looking to keep his undefeated streak intact.

A closer look at tonight’s participants:

Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola – Heavyweight
Record: 29-2 (25)
Age 29
Height: 6’4″
2010 Record: 1-1
Tonight’s Opponent: Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell 27-4 (26)

   Cristobal Arreola’s plight to become boxing’s first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent has been well documented in these very pages. Seven years into his professional career and the question still looms as to whether or not he can accomplish his lofty goal. It’s looking less and less likely as Arreola has looked more like a Great Brown Underachiever than a Great Brown Hope. His lack of effort in the gym and his reluctance to shed the necessary weight has cost him any real chance of making history. “It kind of bugs me to know what I have done.” Arreola said last year when responding to criticism about his training habits. “I kind of feel like I have disrespected the sport by everything that I’ve done, not coming fully prepared as maybe I should be.” Arreola’s admission, along with his lackluster performance last August against little known fighter Manuel Quezada, forced his team to stage an intervention of sorts. The first step in the Nightmare’s road to redemption came a month ago when respected trainer Ronnie Shields was brought on board to help “get rid of the bad habits” associated with Arreola’s regimen. Shields brings with him a wealth of experience having worked with former champions Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield. The addition of Ronnie Shields is a great move on the part of Team Arreola, but it will ultimately be up to ‘The Nightmare’ to take things seriously and to stop “cutting corners” as he has admitted to doing in the past. Arreola will have a great opportunity to silence his critics tonight when he faces an overmatched Joey Abell. The Arreola- Abell matchup is scheduled for 10 rounds.

John “The Hammer” Molina Jr. – Lightweight
Record:  21-1 (17)
Age: 28
Height: 5’10″
2010 Record: 3-0, (3)
Tonight’s opponent: TBA

   As of press time, Covina’s John Molina had yet to be assigned an opponent for tonight’s bout.  Making his third appearance at Pechanga, the 28-year-old lightweight is coming off of the biggest win of his career, a TKO victory over the loquacious Hank Lundy last July. The win earned Molina the WBO/NABO lightweight title along with a #2 world ranking. Just like Arreola, Molina enters the New Year with some key additions to his team, most notably, Mario Morales who takes over head trainer duties from Molina’s previous trainer of one year, Joe Goossen. Molina and his team felt that at this stage in the game it was necessary to add a trainer of Morales’ ilk, someone that could add a new defensive dimension to his game.  The move should serve him well on his quest to capture a world title later this year. John Molina’s bout is scheduled for 8 rounds.

Shawn “Manos De Oro” –  Super Middleweight
Record: 10-0 (9)
Age: 25
Height: 6’1″
2010 Record: 4-0 (3)
Tonight’s opponent: Jon Schmidt 10-1 (6)

   Making his Pechanga debut is 2008 U.S. Olympian Shawn Estrada. Estrada started his pro-career in impressive fashion winning his first six bouts by way of knockout before having to undergo surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his hand; the surgery would keep him sidelined for 14 months. Estrada returned to the ring in a big way last July when he defeated Eddie Hunter by brutal knockout in the first round. The East L.A. fighter is now looking to make some noise in a crowded super middleweight division and hopes to do so with an impressive showing tonight. The Estrada-Schmidt matchup is scheduled for 6 rounds.

   The evening’s co-main event features a bout between Super Lightweight sensations Josesito Lopez and Mike Dallas Jr. Remaining Tickets start at $35. Doors open at 5pm.  First Bout is at 6pm.

El Gran Chisme:

It’s Showtime for Pacquiao

   Showtime Networks Inc. and CBS have joined forces with Top Rank, Inc. to promote, produce and distribute the biggest boxing event of the year—the May 7th showdown between global superstar and Philippine Congressman Manny Pacquiao and three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley. The campaign will include the SHOWTIME Sports documentary series FIGHT CAMP 360° in preview of Pacquiao vs. Mosley. The top rated CBS Television Network will participate by broadcasting a primetime special of the show in April. “The arrangement with CBS and Showtime regarding the promotion and distribution of the Pacquiao vs. Mosley championship event represents a new opportunity for the sport of boxing. It enables boxing to reach millions more people in the United States given the reach of CBS, the most watched television network in the country. This development will not only benefit Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley but all of the young men participating in the sport of boxing,” said Arum.

Arreola conqueror, Adamek to face Klitschko for Heavyweight Championship

   Tomasz Adamek will challenge one of the world champion Klitschko brothers in Poland in September. The final decision whether it will be WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko or IBF/WBO/IBO Champion Wladimir will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Adamek was a cruiserweight and light heavyweight champion before he moved up to the heavyweight division. He won all his five heavyweight bouts, amongst which were his strong performance against former world title challenger Chris Arreola.

 Quote of the Week: “Morales Vs. Marquez April 9 2011 MGM Grand Las Vegas, Marquez said yes, but now it’s wait and see on my part now that they changed the contract. Marquez is a good fighter, but I am neither Australian nor a Mexican-American, no sir I am a Mexicano!-Tijuana’s Erik “El Terrible” Morales on Face book discussing his future bout with fellow Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez.