Boxing Preview: Manuel Quezada vs. Teke Oruh

Quezada And Oruh Meet At The Crossroads

Boxing makes a return to the HP Pavilion in San Jose on Thursday night with this year’s second installment of the popular “Fight Night At The Tank” series. Headlining the bill are a pair of heavyweights that meet at a crossroads.

For the first time in his career, Teke Oruh will be stepping into the ring without the luxury of being an undefeated heavyweight. Manuel Quezada enters this bout on an 11 fight win streak and now has his goals set on notching the biggest victory of his career.

The Nigerian born Teke Oruh started his professional career a solid 15-0 and came within one round on one scorecard of keeping his undefeated record in tact with a draw.

While just a prospect, Oruh has already shared the ring with some of the most successful heavyweights of the last 20 years. Having served as sparring partner for Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and the Klitschko brothers, Oruh certainly knows his way around the ring. Now faced with the task to bounce back from his first loss, “The African Prince” looks to reignite his career with a victory over Manuel Quezada.

His opponent’s last fight came in March, but it was not a boxing match. He crushed heavyweight Charles Hodges, knocking his opponent out in the first round of their mixed martial arts contest.

He puts the boxing gloves back on Thursday in hopes of landing a career defining victory, looking to top his December knockout over Galen Brown. He’ll have his hands full with the talented Oruh.

Also looking to bounce back from defeat is San Jose native Ricardo Cortes. After Jose Celaya backed out because of lingering injuries, Antonio Johnson signed on to take on Cortes in a junior middleweight co-main event.

Cortes was demolished his last outing, a bout that lasted less then a round, against hard hitting Mexican Alfredo Angulo. Knocked down twice, Cortes thought he beat the count from his knee on the second knockdown but the referee waved it off anyways.

The tall, rangy Cortes is a fan favorite at the HP Pavilion, Cortes is looking to pick up the pieces and erase the sour taste left in his mouth by his last outing.

Antonio Johnson is taking a signficant step up in class as he looks to further his career with a big win. Johnson, trained alongside Andre Ward, is fighting for the first time in 2008 and only the third time in the last 19 months due to a shoulder injury.

When in the ring, Johnson has shown flashes of brilliance with his ability to block punches, fast hands and tremendous accuracy. Cortes represents by far his best opponent as a professional, he’ll look to make up for the inactivity and lack of professional experience in search of a victory.

Also scheduled to compete is former top US amateur Mike Dallas Jr., who debuted in impressive fashion in the season opener in March. Joining him on the undercard is San Francisco super middleweight Jason “J.P.” Peterson, a former San Francisco Golden Gloves champion with strong fan support.

Individual tickets, starting at $25, to the Jun 5, 2008 edition of American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank are on sale at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers located in Wherehouse Music stores, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations throughout the Bay Area; online at ticketmaster.com; or charge by phone at (408) 998-TIXS, (415) 421-TIXS or (510) 625-TIXS.