Boxing Returns to the LA Forum in Style

09/15/201605/18/2014 Michael Montero

Juan Manuel Marquez built his career at The Forum in Inglewood, California. From 1995 to 1999 he went 12-0 at the famed venue, making a name for himself among fight fans in the LA area. A decade and a half later “Dinamita” returned as an international star to face the bigger, younger “Mile High” Mike Alvarado. A pro Marquez crowd showed up and nearly blew the roof off The Forum with deafening roars during the fighter introductions. It was an amazing atmosphere for fight fans.

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Marquez – Alvarado Weigh in Coverage

09/15/201605/16/2014 Michael Montero

After well over a decade, boxing returns to the historic Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California. This afternoon Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez (55-7-1) and American Mike Alvarado (34-2-0) stepped onto the scales for their last formality before Saturday’s crossroads bout. This wasn’t your typical weigh in full of trash talk and posturing, but rather respect and compliments. There was a procedural and professional demeanor from the fighters, seemingly focused on the must win situation that lie ahead.

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Stiverne-Arreola II – post fight presser and analysis

09/15/201605/12/2014 Michael Montero

Bermane Stiverne stopped Chris Arreola at 2:02 of the sixth round Saturday night to become the first heavyweight titlist of Haitian heritage. ESPN picked up the anticipated rematch and aired it live on the main network rather than ESPN2, which is the home of their popular “Friday Night Fights” series. Here’s a look back at a great event.

The Atmosphere:

It was a unique setting for a heavyweight world title bout, with the card taking place on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles. By contrast, the first Stiverne-Arreola match last April was held in front of a larger audience at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California.

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Stiverne stops Arreola in classic heavyweight battle

05/12/201405/11/2014 Michael Montero

(Photo credit: Tiffany Lam) Tonight millions of boxing fans tuned into a heavyweight title fight live on primetime ESPN. A raucous crowd got their money’s worth at the Galen Center on the University of Southern California campus, just a couple miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Haiti native Bermane “B WARE” Stiverne, who now trains out of Las Vegas, squared off against Mexican-American Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola in a rematch for the vacant WBC title. Stiverne won their first bout last April via decision, but not before shattering Arreola’s nose at the end of the third round. As intense and bloody as the first contest was, fans eagerly anticipated the rematch.

The USC marching band played the national anthem in the ring, and then Chris Arreola made his ring walk, inciting a wild eruption from the partisan LA crowd. Next to the ring was Bermane Stiverne, who was serious as always as he shrugged off boos from Arreola supporters. Michael Buffer introduced the fighters and got the crowd pumped. The atmosphere was electric in anticipation for the opening bell.

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Stiverne-Arreola II fight week coverage – Weigh In

09/15/201605/09/2014 Michael Montero

Weigh-ins for the WBC heavyweight title bout between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola took place this afternoon at the Radisson Midtown near the USC campus in Los Angeles, where the action will take place tomorrow night. Both men came in lighter than they weighed for their first bout last April, showing just how serious the fighters are taking this rematch.

Arreola stepped onto the scale first, weighing in at 239, his trimmest physique in years. By comparison, “The Nightmare” came into the first match with Stiverne at 248, and tipped the scale for his most recent bout (a quick destruction of American Seth Mitchell last year) at 242 pounds.

Stiverne hit the scale next, measuring 239.5 pounds. By comparison, “B WARE” was 247 for the first fight with Arreola last April, and came in at 243 against journeyman Willie Herring in his only bout of 2012. Against former title challenger Ray Austin in June of 2011, Stiverne weighed in at 239 pounds.

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Stiverne-Arreola II fight week coverage – Open Workouts

09/15/201605/07/2014 Michael Montero

This afternoon on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles, Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola held open workouts as they prepared for this Saturday’s WBC heavyweight title match. Please check out the embedded video to see the fighters in action.

Southern California native Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola arrived first around 3pm and after some stretching and shadowboxing, he worked the mitts with longtime trainer Henry Ramirez. Chris was his normal jovial self and was joking with media members as he worked up a sweat. He appeared in good shape and high spirits only days ahead of the biggest fight of his career. After a few minutes skipping rope, he stepped aside to talk with media and leave the ring area open for his opponent to work. Arreola made it a point to tell media he is in much better condition for the rematch with Stiverne than he was in their first bout. He beamed with confidence as he answered questions and seemed very relaxed.

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Bermane Stiverne bests Chris Arreola

07/28/202004/27/2013 Michael Montero

arreola43 A rowdy crowd rocked the house at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California tonight; as local heavyweight Chris Arreola faced Haitian born Canadian Bermane Stiverne in front of a partisan crowd. Things started quickly and developed into one of the best heavyweight scraps we’ve seen in a while.

Neither man wasted time as both men threw big shots in the first round. The difference was Arreola’s pressure; he never stopped coming forward and backed his opponent into the ropes several times. Stiverne attempted to counter and was moderately successful, but let himself get trapped in the corner and ate a few combos. Arreola continued the pressure in the second and worked both downstairs and upstairs. However, Stiverne showed better movement and landed some nice counters. Things appeared to be evening out.

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