Notebook: Ruiz-Arreola PPV set for May 1 in Carson, Calif., fight lineup set

'Chocolatito' on judge suspension; Vargas on Canelo card

Mar 25, 2021

On Tuesday, I broke the story for BoxingScene that the impending Premier Boxing Champions Fox Sports PPV card headlined by a heavyweight fight between former titlist Andy Ruiz Jr. and Chris Arreola would take place on May 1. I also outlined the PPV undercard bouts: former lightweight world titlist Omar Figueroa Jr. against Abel Ramos in a 12-round welterweight bout; junior middleweight contender Sebastian Fundora against Jorge Cota in a 12-rounder; and welterweight prospect Jesus Ramos (Abel’s nephew) against Javier Molina in 10-rounder.

Please read the story here: https://www.boxingscene.com/sources-andy-ruiz-chris-arreola-card-moving-1-ppv-undercard-outlined--156360

On Wednesday, PBC made the official announcement of the bouts just as I had outlined. It also announced that the card will cost $49.95 and will take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, where at least some spectators will be permitted.

Ruiz is coming off a woeful performance in a one-sided decision loss in his title rematch with Anthony Joshua in December 2019, after which he split with trainer Manny Robles and now is being trained by Eddy Reynoso.

Here is what the fighters had to say about the bouts:

Ruiz comment: “I can’t wait to get back in the ring on May 1. Training with coach Eddy in his gym has been amazing. I’m around great fighters like Canelo Alvarez and we’re putting in the work so that I can look better than ever. I have known Chris Arreola since I turned professional. He’s a Mexican warrior just like me and I expect him to come at me with everything he’s got. This is going to be an action-packed event between fighters who do not go backwards. I will be smart and ready to do whatever it takes to get the win and put myself back in position to become heavyweight champion again.”

Arreola comment: “Training with Joe Goossen is tedious, hard work. We’re doing everything that we can so that when Ruiz and I face each other, fight fans will get treated to an all-out war between the two best Mexican-American heavyweights to ever step in the ring. This matchup should be a fan friendly fight, and I plan on winning behind all of my hard work.”

Figueroa comment: “I’ve been training with Joel Diaz for the last six weeks and doing everything necessary leading up to this fight. This is the best shape I’ve ever been in this far out from a fight, because I now realize what I need to do differently to ensure the longevity of my career. I’m training and preparing the right way. I can’t wait to prove on May 1 that I belong with the elite fighters in this division.”

A. Ramos comment: “This fight will be exciting because Omar’s boxing style and my boxing style match up perfectly for an action-packed fight. I expect him to put on the pressure like he always does, but I will be prepared for that and anything else he brings on fight night. A victory over Omar will put me in position to fight for a world title again. I want to earn that shot with a great performance and prove that I can beat the best fighters in the division.”

Fundora comment: “I’m really looking forward to fighting Jorge Cota on this big event. I’m laser-focused because I know this will be a tough test for me. I’m sure that he will be training hard too, but I’ll be up for the challenge and I look forward to showing off my skills and fighting for all the hard-working people out there.”

Cota comment: “I am treating this fight like it is do-or-die for my career. Fundora is very tall, but he can be hit. I think my style works well against his.”

J. Ramos comment: “I’m looking to make a statement in this fight against a tough opponent. We know it's a big step up, but my team and I feel like it's time the world sees my talent. Molina will bring out some of the many things that I’m capable of. This win would prove that I’m not just any prospect.”

Molina comment: “I’m excited for this fight and for the opportunity to face an unbeaten prospect. A lot of people are probably counting me out, but I’m ready to prove all the doubters wrong.”

Lara-LaManna on Fox

As expected, PBC on Wednesday announced that secondary junior middleweight titlist Erislandy Lara will move up to middleweight and face Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna for a vacant secondary title on May 1 on the Ruiz-Arreola card. Lara-LaManna will live on Fox and Fox Deportes (7 p.m.) as a lead in to the Fox Sports PPV card at 9 p.m.

In the opening bout of the Fox portion of the card, Eduardo Ramirez and Isaac Avelar will meet in an all-Mexican fight for a vacant interim featherweight title.

“Erislandy Lara has had a long reign as an elite 154-pounder and now has his sights set on a new challenge in the star-studded middleweight division,” TGB Promotions president Tom Brown said. “He will bring his renowned skills and style to this tough matchup against the young and rangy Thomas LaManna.”

Lara (27-3-3, 15 KOs), 37, a Cuban southpaw fighting out of Houston, is coming off a one-sided decision over Greg Vendetti in August in a junior middleweight defense.

“Thomas LaManna is a tall middleweight with a lot of experience and I’m taking this fight very seriously, like always,” Lara said. “I arrived weeks ago for training camp (in Las Vegas) and (trainer) Ismael Salas immediately got me working on the fundamentals of boxing. At this stage in my career, I’m all-action, fighting on the inside, and letting my hands fly. I’m going to make a statement in this fight with a knockout.”

LaManna (30-4-1, 12 KOs), 29, of Belleville, New Jersey, who has won two in a row since back-to-back losses, is taking a massive step up in competition and happy for the opportunity.

“It’s been a long time coming and now I’m finally getting my chance to accomplish my ultimate dream of becoming a champion,” LaManna said. “This is the land of opportunity and I’m getting mine on May 1. I’ve put my heart, blood and soul into this game. I’m the definition of the American dream. People can write me off if they want, because at the end of the day, there’s no doubt that I’m coming to win. This is my time.”

Former world title challenger Ramirez (24-2-3, 11 KOs), 28, is coming off an impressive fifth-round knockout of Miguel Flores in December on the Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia pay-per-view.

“This fight is very important for my career because it puts me one step closer to fighting for a world title again,” Ramirez said. “But I will not be looking past Avelar, who is coming off a big win and will be coming to fight like a proud Mexican, just like I do.”

Avelar (17-2, 10 KOs), 23, also last fought on the Spence-Garcia card and outpointed Sakaria Lukas in his first defeat.

“I’m coming into this fight strongly believing that I’m going to stop Eduardo Ramirez,” Avelar said. “I’ve been hurting and stopping sparring partners during camp, so I’m fully prepared for a war. This is going to be a spectacular fight like Rafael Marquez versus Israel Vazquez.”

‘Chocolatito’ applauds judge suspension

Four-division world champion and former pound-for-pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez spent some time Tuesday chatting with boxing media about Eduardo and Leonardo Baez, 25-year-old identical twins, who have eight-rounders on the Ring City USA card Thursday (NBCSN, 9 p.m. ET) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Gonzalez trained and sparred with them in Coachella, California, as he was preparing for his junior bantamweight title unification rematch with Juan Francisco Estrada on March 13 in Dallas, a fight of the year contender Gonzalez lost by highly controversial split decision that included a 117-111 scorecard for Estrada from judge Carlos Sucre. The scorecard was so outrageous it earned Sucre a suspension from the WBA pending an investigation.

During Gonzalez’s media session he discussed the controversy over the fight with Estrada, whom he outpointed in a junior flyweight title defense in 2012.

Asked if he had watched a video of the fight, Gonzalez said through a translator, “Only highlights. The game plan that we focused on in the gym was well executed but the decision wasn’t there. I feel well. I feel happy and loved with my family. I am happy with the outcome of my preparation even though the decision wasn’t there.”

He also said he was happy that Sucre is being punished.

“I feel good about it. It’s the best that they have done,” Gonzalez said. “I believe that it looks toward bringing justice to all boxers.”

Gonzalez (50-3, 41 KOs), 33, of Nicaragua, said he has no plans on retirement.

“I’ve never said, and never even hinted, at retirement,” he said. “I gave an excellent fight against Estrada and I am not going to retire after that great victory.”

As for Baez brothers, Gonzalez said they fighters to watch.

“They are very strong and they know how to combine their punches very well,” Gonzalez said. “On top of that, they have a great work ethic. They always push forward in the ring and have great conditioning, so that is a great factor. They are learning.”

Jessie Vargas has big plans

Former two-division world titlist Jessie Vargas, who has been idle since an entertaining decision loss to Mikey Garcia in a welterweight main event last March, will be back on the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders undercard on May 8 (DAZN and PPV) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

I spoke at length with Vargas on Tuesday night and we discussed his impending return at junior middleweight as well as his goals to compete for a world title in the new division and to eventually go up to middleweight. I wrote a story about it for BoxingScene. Please read it here: https://www.boxingscene.com/jessie-vargas-aims-shine-on-canelo-saunders-then-go-154-title--156369

Quick hits

Promoter Greg Cohen announced he has signed secondary junior flyweight world titlist Carlos Canizales (22-0-1, 17 KOs), 28, of Venezuela. He won a vacant 108-pound belt in Japan in March 2018 by decision over Reiya Konishi and has made two defenses, a 12th-round knockout of Lu Bin on the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse card in July 2018 and a decision over Sho Kimura, also in Japan, in May 2019. Cohen said he hopes to get Canizales busier, which is what the fighter wants. “I want to fight,” Canizales said. “I am not worried about the opponent. I just want to show that I am a true champion and I want to fight the best competition at 108 pounds and beyond. Even though it’s been almost two years for me without fighting, due to lack of opponents who want to fight and then the pandemic, I feel I’m still at my best because I have stayed true to the gym while hoping to return.”

It’s not a done deal yet but Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez is likely to fight on the Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders undercard on May 8 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, multiple sources told Fight Freaks Unite. Sanchez (17-0, 10 KOs), 28, who is based in Las Vegas and shares trainer Eddy Reynoso with Alvarez, appeared on the Alvarez-Callum Smith undercard on Dec. 19 and knocked out Julian Fernandez in the seventh round.

Weight from San Juan, Puerto Rico for Thursday’s Ring City USA card on NBCSN (9 p.m. ET): Amanda Serrano 124.8 pounds, Daniela Bermudez 125 (for Serrano’s unified women’s featherweight title); Abimael Ortiz 121.8, Eduardo Baez 121.6; Carlos Caraballo 120.2, Leonardo Baez 119.6; Juan Carlos Camacho 116.4, Marvin Solano 117.6; Luis Midyael Sanchez 149.6, Ryan Pino 147.6; Oscar Collazo 111.6, Francisco Bonilla 111.6; Arely Mucino Reyes 115, Lucia Hernandez Nunez 109.2; Angel Carranza Jimenez 130.8, Eduardo Melendez 131.6.

Former junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan is serving as an adviser to junior flyweight Tal Singh, whom Khan hopes he can guide to becoming the first Sikh world champion boxer. Singh, 26, of Liverpool, England, is expected to make his pro debut this summer. “I’m so happy to working with Tal and I will be putting all my energy into taking him to the top and becoming the first ever Sikh world champion boxer. He’s breaking down boundaries, just like I did when I became the first ever British-Pakistani world champion to open the doors for the Muslim community in boxing. I see in him the dedication, mentality and focus to become a world champion. I know what it takes to be a world champion and I see that in him. So much so, that I believe in 10 fights he will be world class and ready to fight for a title. My job is to take him to the top. If I didn’t believe in him I wouldn’t waste my time as I’m still a boxer myself, but with Tal I know he’s committed and dedicated to achieving his dream."

Unified junior welterweight world titlist Jose Ramirez has long been active in his community, especially when it comes to assisting farm workers, in California’s Central Valley. He has a major fight for the undisputed title with Josh Taylor set for May 22 (ESPN) but took time out of his schedule recently to visit sponsor Wonderful Pistachios headquarters in Lost Hills, California, where he spoke with nearly 150 employees, lauding them for their critical role as essential employees during the coronavirus pandemic and urging them to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as possible.

Show and tell

The late Hall of Famer Arturo Gatti, my all-time favorite fighter, was supposedly all done, but because he was a big name when Oscar De La Hoya was looking for the right comeback opponent following his welterweight title loss to Shane Mosley in their classic first fight in 2000 Gatti got the call. De La Hoya’s team figured Gatti would stand right in front of the much bigger De La Hoya and make him look great. The fight was supposed to be Gatti’s golden parachute as he was going to make nearly $2 million and, as some thought, head off into retirement.

Although Gatti did get stopped by De La Hoya in the fifth round, it was a very exciting fight in which Gatti gave his all — as always — and bloodied De La Hoya’s nose. Little did anyone expect, after that fight Gatti linked up with trainer Buddy McGirt and had some of his biggest fights and best performances, including the legendary trilogy with Micky Ward and winning a title in a second weight class at junior welterweight. I was ringside at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to cover De La Hoya-Gatti and while it was indeed one-sided, it’s also a very underrated action fight. Long after the fight occurred on March 24, 2001 — 20 years ago on Wednesday — I acquired one of Gatti’s cornerman jackets used in the fight, which still has Gatti’s dried blood on one of the pockets. Gatti autographed it to me and it is one of the cornerstone items of my collection.

Gonzalez photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing

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