As previously reported on Fightnews, heavyweight contender Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (35-2, 30 KOs) of Riverside, California will be returning to the Staples Center on Saturday, June 23 on the undercard of the main event of Victor Ortiz vs. Josesito Lopez. Arreola’s opponent will be Ilinois native Mike Mollo (20-3-1, 12 KOs). The bout is scheduled to be the Showtime television opener of a tripleheader.
There is talk of a potential fall showdown with world champion Wladimir Klitschko should the Goossen Tutor-promoted Arreola be victorious in this fight. Mollo, promoted by Boxing360, scored his biggest victory as a professional by stopping Kevin McBride a few fights after McBride’s upset of Mike Tyson. Mollo has had a string of bad fortune of late. This is actually the second time a fight between Mollo and Arreola has been made. The two were scheduled to meet July 9th, 2011 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight was to be televised on HBO After Dark. An injury suffered by Mollo KO’d that bout. Just a few months later Boxing360 came to an agreement with Golden Boy promotions to have Mollo face unbeaten Seth Mitchell August 27th in San Jose, California in a bout to be televised on Showtime. Unfortunately the main event and entire show was cancelled when Robert Guerrero was injured prior to his scheduled fight with Marcos Madaina.
The event is Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. Arreola-Mollo is presented in association with Boxing360 and Goossen Tutor Promotions. The other bout will be Lucas Martin Matthysse of Argentina vs Humberto Soto of Mexico in a 12 round WBC light welterweight semi-final eliminator. Soto vs.Matthysse is presented in association with Baja Boxing Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Tickets are priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available for purchase online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com or via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Staples Center box office. All tickets purchased for Ortiz vs. Berto II will be honored for this event.
