The tumultuous journey for Fres Oquendo's next fight just took another turn that will result in Oquendo still not getting his first fight since 2014.
It was expected that Oquendo would face Jarrell Miller in the main event of the November 17 Matchroom Boxing USA card on DAZN. The fight, which would have taken place in Kansas, was supposed to be for the vacant WBA "regular" heavyweight title. According to an ESPN, Oquendo was offered $500,000 for the fight. Oquendo turned it down because he did not believe there was enough time before the fight to adequately implement a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) testing program.
Matchroom Boxing announced on October 27 that Miller will now face undefeated Romanian heavyweight Bogdan Dinu. Dinu was scheduled to face Tom Little on October 27, but with the offer to fight Miller already there, Dinu was be allowed to get out of the fight.
The reason why Oquendo was going to be given a world title shot despite not fighting for nearly five years is because of a federal court ruling years ago. What followed was a metaphorical roller coaster that has always resulted in Oquendo not getting the title fight that he is owed.
Most recently, Oquendo was supposed to fight Manuel Charr, the previous titleholder, in September, but the fight got scrapped because Charr failed a drug test a month before the fight. Oquendo's last time in the ring was a 2014 loss to Ruslan Chagaev.
Miller last fought on the October 6 Matchroom Boxing USA card on DAZN in Chicago. Miller defeated Tomasz Adamek by knockout in the second round.
