Perennial Heavyweight contender “Fast” Fres Oquendo 29-5(18) will make his first appearance of the year when he takes on unbeaten Cuban Olympic Gold medallist Odlanier Solis on 22 May in Miami. The Puerto Rican native who now resides in Chicago, IL turned 36 recently and knows this is a tremendous opportunity to get back in the big time, it also represents a crossroads fight for both guys. He debuted in may 1997 and streaked to 22 straight victories which included wins over then unbeaten Duncan Dokiwari 12-0(11) & former title challengers Phil Jackson & Bert Cooper who were both soundly outpointed. Another unbeaten Clifford Etienne 19-0(13) was impressively stopped in the eighth. After winning his first pro title when he scored an eleventh round TKO over Obed Sullivan for the laters NABF crown, Oquendo headed into a bout with David Tua 39-3(34) though he boxed well “The Big O” was stopped in the ninth. After two comeback wins he got a shot at Chris Bryd for the IBF championship again Oquendo boxed well but was ultimately turned back losing on points. In his very next fight some 7 months later he went straight back into a world title fight this time against WBA ruler John Ruiz. After a nip and tuck battle Oquendo was stopped in round eleven. After a near two year hiatus Oquendo came back and won two fights before looking horns with Heavyweight legend Evander Holyfield. Again he was denied losing a controversial points decision. Not perturbed he ran off three more victories before losing another controversial decision this time to James Toney last time out.
Anson Wainwright – I believe you will be fighting former Olympic champion Odlanier Solis from Cuba on 22 May in Miami. What can you tell us about this fight? What do you know about Solis?
Fres Oquendo – Well, Solis is s world champion who is a Olympic and World Gold Nedalist with 231 amateur fights and 2 wins over Felix Savon the greatest Cuban fighter and 3 x Olympic Gold Medalist. This guy is no bum. As a pro he has been a bit lackluster and not super impressive. He will be a tough challenge and I need to be in great shape which thankfully my clean life gives me the chance to do that. I have a game plan of training hard, getting great sparring and coming in shape to go 10 or 12 rounds and technically out box him and hopefully get the judges to give me a decision if I actually beat them. The state of Florida seems to be a fair organization but we after the Kermit Cintron decision I do have cause for concern fighting a Cuban Gold Medalist in Miami.
Anson Wainwright – Where will you be training for this fight & what does a normal days consist of?
Fres Oquendo – I have been training in Miami Beach at Dundee’s old gym in South Beach where Ali trained. I love the gym and the heat and sand runs are great. I have great Pros down there who spar with me. Kevon Burnett,(Who Solis fought last), Timor Ibragamov and Attila Levin are sensational fighters and those guys give me fantastic work. So it seems that’s where I will be. Usually a day consists of a sand run in the heat, breakfast, rest, Boxing(Sparring, or gym work) and then weights, neck and ab exercises. I spar 3-4 xx a week with usually a 12-15 round sparring session about a week before the fight. Sat are my long beach runs. Usually and hour to an hour and a half is my longest about mid camp. Diet is important as we go completely Organic during camp.
Anson Wainwright – The fight with Solis is somewhat of a cross roads fight. Is that how you see it?
Fres Oquendo – Crossroads as in it could help move my career into the top 5 again when I beat him. I have been here many times and Im used to it and so is Solis. However there is a difference do it in amateurs as in the pros. He seems to have a good chin, he’s is experienced but as I pro I have been in there with guys that would beat him and stop him I feel I have the edge with experience as a pro and as a person and my technical ability should overcome his youth and inexperience.
Anson Wainwright – You have fought three previous Cubans Ramon Garbey, Eliseo Castillo & Damian Norris. (You’ll get yourself as a Cuban assassin if you beat Solis! Hahah) Do you think that experience will help you?
Fres Oquendo – Of course. I may change to Fres “The Cuban” Assassin. Haha. They were all tough fighters. Where they come from it is intrinsic. Castillo was possibly my hardest fight. Solis will be a hard fight. Period. I just need to be prepared, which I always am.
Anson Wainwright – You have only lost 5 out of 34 contests. Four of them being to former world champion’s. John Ruiz & Chris Byrd in world title fights and Evander Holyfield and James Toney. These fights must of been tremendous learning curves. What can you tell us about them?
Fres Oquendo – I must correct you, respectfully. I have lost ONCE. David Tua is my only loss. I was pitching a shutout and if you watch that fight carefully, I snapped my ankle about 10 or 20 seconds right before Tua hit me with a bomb. I lost my concentration for just a few seconds trying to get the ankle to recover because I have a permanent injury there. It t is not something you do against the powerful David Tua. That was that. I am not making an excuse I am just stating a fact of why I feel I lost. The other questionable stoppage is the Ruiz fight. I fell 100% certain I would have went on that one more round and beat Ruiz. Definitely a stoppage which should not have occurred. I do not think there is and iota of doubt as to my clear victories against Byrd, Holyfield and recently Toney. I will attach the compubox numbers as proof. Heck I even dropped Byrd. Score those fight round by round and show me how I lost? I am 33-1 as a pro. I need to be firm so people know the truth. I did not lose I was cheated by people who call themselves judges. One last thing on this. In the Toney fight the online scoring, the press row, the announcers and the fans unanimously had me winning. NOT ONE person had me losing. NOT ONE! Why should I count that as a loss because a crooked referee took a point away (BTW I did not even touch James in one warning and I actually hit him on the SIDE not the back of the head in the point deduction)
and TWO bad judges turned a blind eye for a couple rounds. That is wrong. Plain and simple. PS. I had dropped Mo Harris twice and was down on the scorecards when I stopped him Explain that one.
Anson Wainwright – Other of those guys who have you sparred with among the top guys at Heavyweight?
Fres Oquendo – I have sparred with a ton of great fighters. In recent years I have sparred with David Haye, James Toney, Attila Levin, Timor Ibragamov, Joey Abell, Jason Gavern, Borris Powell, Andre Arlovski(UFC Champ) and Mike Mollo to name a few. They are all great work for me. I hope they could say the same about me.
Anson Wainwright – Who has been your toughest opponent in your career & what fighter of your opponents hit the hardest?
Fres Oquendo – The Holyfield fight was hard because I had strep throat and a high fever leading up to the fight. I could not swallow causing me not to eat all week and it was painful just to drink water. It plays on you physically and mentally to know you are at about 60% going in against that all time great warrior. But I recovered from a 1st round flash knockdown and came back to win. The actual hardest fight probably the Cuban Castillo. It was like 105 degrees in July, in Miami in a filled little arena with no A/C. It took me about 3 hours to give a urine sample for the drug test I was so dehydrated. Castillo was still there when we left 4 hours after the fight. Tua hit the hardest.
How did you originally get into Boxing?
Fres Oquendo – I started boxing in 1987 following my brother Hector ‘s footsteps. This is why I started boxing; my brother Hector.
Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do when your not training for a fight?
Fres Oquendo – I spend time with my 5 kids playing Mr. Mom when I am not training. Doctors, dentists and time in the mini van is where you will generally find me. I like to workout all the time. I’m always running, I like to play basketball and hang with my partner and manager Tom who is very athletic. I keep fit and watch my diet so I am never really more than a few pounds off my fighting weight and shape. I also go to church every Sunday which is the most important thing of all.
Anson Wainwright – Who do you think wins the Klitschko-Haye & Chagaev-Valuev fights and why?
Fres Oquendo – Having sparred with Haye it was obvious he was very special. I told my manager Tom that he would be cruiserweigh champ and he agreed. He has not been tested aside from Monte and has not gone 12 rounds in a fight. He has power if he lands on Vlad he has the potential to stop him. On the other hand I have heard from Freddy Roach that Vlad is probably the hardest puncher he has held mitts for. (Except from me of course, haha) (Tyson being the most exposive he said) Given that, both athletic and always in good shape, again like myself (haha) I believe it could go either way. Late in the fight I may have to give the edge to Vlad, only because he has been there. With all the great talent Dave has, he lacks the experience of guys like Vlad and truthfully like myself who have had a lot of rounds and gone to deep waters many many times. When I get through Solis I would love to eventually fight both of them because they are 2 of the best. Chagaev vs Valuev? Boring fight but probably Chagaev again. WBA is the lineage body but has gone to the dumps unfortunately. It is bought and paid for. Sad.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for Solis before your fight?
Fres Oquendo – I respect you like I do all fighters. You have had your time as an amateur and a Gold Medal. It is something of which you should be proud. However, I have been consistently training for 20 years to become the Heavyweight Champion of the world and have dedicated more time than you, more rounds, more runs, more sweat than you and I have been cheated and robbed and have earned the chance to be a heavyweight champ which in my opinion is the most coveted thing in all of sports. You stand in my way and I want it more than you. I need to feed and keep a roof over my kids head and I am hungrier than you and I will come and roll through you and that’s just the way it has to be. You will either quit or learn from it and move on. See you on May 22nd when I will give you your 1st loss. Then we could be friends.
Thank your for your time Fres
Best wishes
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com