Chris Arreola, David Haye, Ghost & More

LAS VEGAS-Heavyweights Chris Arreola and Manuel Quezada are preparing for their showdown in a few weeks at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, but it?s not the only news in the heavyweight division.

It appears David ?Hayemaker? Haye is linking up with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood according to several sources who work at that gym. The British bomber has been seen going through routines at the crowded gym.

Roach had said he wasn?t taking any more fighters but this is no ordinary prizefighter, this is the WBA heavyweight champ.

Arreola has been sparring with several heavyweights including one from the Wild Card and also Jason Gavern. Weight-wise he looks to be weighing in the 250s.

Quezada is reportedly working in Oxnard for this fight. His last fight was a loss to Gavern by decision. That?s not an embarrassment by any means. Gavern is a heady fighter who can give anyone problems.

Training is at full force for Chris ?The Nightmare? Arreola (28-2, 25 KOs) who meets Bakersfield?s Manuel Quezada (29-5, 18 KOs) in a heavyweight match that has major consequences for the winner and loser on Aug. 13. ?One or two losses can damage a fighters career,? said Dan Goossen, president of Goossen-Tutor Promotions. ?This is a fight for two gentleman of the sport that have to overcome this hurdle in order to move on to bigger title fights.? Tickets are still available at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario (800) 745-3000.

The semi main event of the Arreola-Quezada fight is Riverside?s Josesito Lopez who will be fighting as a junior welterweight. The last time I saw Lopez he was sparring with the late Edwin Valero in Orange County. During that sparring session Valero was knocking out sparring partners within a minute of exchanging punches. Three sparring partners ended up unconscious. The only one to survive every round was Lopez.

Las Vegas

The casinos seem a little busier than normal. On Thursday the Mandalay Bay was filled with people in the casino floor. On Friday the first wave of fans arrived for the weigh in that features several marquee fights like Juan Manuel Marquez/ Juan Diaz, Daniel Jacob/Dmitry Pirog, Robert Guerrero/ Joel Casamayor, Jorge Linares/Rocky Juarez and several other bouts.

Saw Robert ?The Ghost? Guerrero working out in a local gym close to the Mandalay Bay. It must have been close to 120 degrees inside that heat box because it was 114 outside.

Guerrero has the toughest fight of his career against Cuban stalwart Joel Casamayor. It could mean great things for Guerrero or another reboot for the Cuban dandy.

?This is not going to be an easy fight,? said Bob Santos who manages Guerrero. ?Robert is having an easy time making weight. He weighed 140 two weeks ago and is looking strong.?

Guerrero looks fresh as ever at this new weight. He?s very tall and people forget that he captured featherweight and junior lightweight world titles. It should be a great fight.

Other boxing news

San Diego hosts its first big Ultimate Fighting Championship card on Sunday Aug. 1 as light heavyweight Jon ?Bones? Jones (10-1) tangles with Vladimir ?The Janitor? Matyushenko (24-4) at the San Diego Sports Arena. Though Jones has suddenly become a fan favorite for his aggressive style, he?s not impressed by his own success. ?A lot of fans are bandwagon jumpers. One minute they think you?re the best in the world the next minute they say that guy is overrated,? said Jones. Matyushenko, a mixed martial arts veteran, has a four-inch height disadvantage. ?I cant make my reach longer or be taller. I can just be the best that I can be,? Matyushenko said. Tickets are still available.

Undefeated local junior middleweights Alberto Herrera (7-0, 5 KOs) and Sammy Gonzalez (7-0, 3 KOs) are ready to test each other on the main event on Saturday July 31 at the Ontario Doubletree Hotel. Also on the Thompson Boxing Promotion is Riverside?s Jonathan Arrellano (4-0-1). For tickets (714) 935-0900.

Riverside?s Michael Franco (16-0, 11 KOs) recently signed to fight veteran Adolfo Landeros (20-14-1) on Friday Aug. 20 in Tucson, Arizona. Franco, a featherweight, last fought in November. The fight will be televised by Telefutura.

WBA light heavyweight titleholder Beibut Shumenov (10-1) defeated Ukraine?s Viacheslav Uzelkov (22-1, 14 KOs) by decision after 12 rounds on Friday at Chumash Casino. It was Shumenov?s first title defense. Also on the card, junior featherweight Rico Ramos (17-0) and former Olympian super middleweight Shawn Estrada (7-0) remained undefeated.

Australia?s Danny Green (30-3, 27 KOs) needed only 29 seconds to knock out challenger Paul Briggs (26-4) and keep his IBO cruiserweight title last Wednesday in Australia. Controversy erupted over the punch which landed on the top of Brigg?s head but did not seem powerful enough to cause a knockout. The local boxing commission is investigation the outcome.

Thailand?s Usanakorn Kokietgym (5-1, 4 KOs) defends the WBC bantamweight title against Yoon-Joo Shin (4-4-4) on Thursday in Thailand.

Maureen Shea (14-2, 8 KOs) fights Liliana Martinez (8-10) on Friday at Saratoga Springs, New York in a six round featherweight bout. Shea is a former world title contender.

Former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez (45-7, 39 KOs) knocked out Aristedes Perez (17-3-1, 10 KOs) in the second round of their featherweight battle on Saturday. The bout took place in Campeche, Mexico.