Expect a good, old-fashioned brawl when veterans Peter Quillin and Alfredo Angulo face off in a super middleweight showdown Saturday night on FS1.
Put aside future title fight implications surrounding this super middleweight clash of veterans, this one’s all about an absolute car crash of a battle between two offense-minded fighters.
On Saturday, September 21, live from Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California and headlining an FS1 PBC Fight Night and FOX Deportes card (10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT), former world titlist Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (34-1-1, 23 KOs) takes on battler Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (25-7, 21 KOs) in what promises to be a bruising twelve-round 168-pound war.
On the undercard, blue-chip lightweight prospect Chris "Prime Time" Colbert meets former title challenger Miguel Beltran Jr. in a 10-round battle and, also scheduled for 10 rounds, undefeated welterweight Terrel Williams goes up against Thomas Dulorme. Opening the show will be a 10-round super lightweight bout between highly-regarded 18-year-old unbeaten prospect Jesus Ramos and veteran Rickey Edwards.
Chicago-born, Brooklyn-raised Peter Quillin has been to the very top of the sport before, capturing the WBO middleweight title against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam in a six-knockdown romp back in 2012.
After three defenses, however, things went south. A brief battle with the scale before a draw with Andy Lee in 2015 precipitated a full-on derailing eight months later against Daniel Jacobs, who took the belt from the then-undefeated Quillin via jarring first-round knockout.
What followed for “Kid Chocolate” was a two-year personal quest, coming to terms with the crushing defeat, but, more importantly, coming to terms with who he was as a man and affirming the faith in God that initially brought him to the very top of his chosen profession.
Comeback wins over Dashon Johnson and J’Leon Love led to a two-round No Contest against former titlist Caleb Truax in an IBF 168 lb. eliminator when Truax sustained a deep cut over his eye from an unintentional clash of heads.
This past August, Quillin was supposed to have had his second chance at that IBF eliminator, but an Achilles injury forced Truax to pull out of the scheduled rematch. Now, the 36-year-old faces a much different kind of challenge in “El Perro” Angulo.
"I'm definitely not looking at it as a negative thing,” Quillin told Fox’s Inside PBC Boxing. “I think there was all a purpose behind whatever's been going on...to align myself with what God wants to do with me... I'm just ready, fit and ready to go. This is the type of explosive fight that's going to get me geared up to be able to go out there and showcase the best of Peter Quillin, Kid Chocolate."
Alfredo Angulo, like Quillin, knows all about the ups and downs of life.
The former junior middleweight interim titlist and 2004 Mexican Olympian was once among the most feared beasts in the game, thudding his way to top contender status in the 154 lb. class. Then, however, life got in the way.
The native of Mexicali, Mexico was detained for seven months in an Immigration and Naturalization Service detention center over US visa issues and then temporarily forced to relocate to Mexico, where he resumed his career.
Upon resolving those immigration issues, Angulo returned to the States and jumped into a tough five-fight comeback run that saw him go 2-3, dropping bouts to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Erislandy Lara, and James De la Rosa. A couple more losses—to Sergio Mora and Freddy Hernandez-- followed as Angulo soul-searched his way back to being the “Perro” of old.
Now, claiming to be reinvigorated at the age of 37 under the influence of trainer Abel Sanchez and coming off a two-round destruction of veteran Evert Bravo, Angulo is aiming for one more run at a title. This upcoming clash with Peter Quillin offers the quickest route to that ultimate goal.
"I am looking forward to showing my fans the best Alfredo Angulo on September 21," said Angulo. "I have been working hard towards this opportunity. This is a chance to move closer to a world title and with hard work and the support of my team, I'm going to win that title."
Stylistically, Quillin-Angulo is straight-up car crash.
Both are offense-first fighters with a flair for beating down opposition. In terms of versatility, Quillin can do more in the ring, but Angulo is stubbornly steadfast in his come-forward bullishness.
Quillin, with two legitimately heavy hands and a good jab that sets everything up, will do what he usually does. He’ll inch forward, applying subtle pressure and looking for big punch opportunities-- and those opportunities will be there against an opponent who absolutely doesn’t mind taking a shot to give a shot.
Angulo, meanwhile, only knows how to be Angulo. That means defensive liabilities, but also constant pressure, constant aggression, and a tough-as-nails mental and physical makeup. “El Perro” will fight until there’s no fight left in him. Quillin better be prepared to do the same.
This Saturday, it’s going to come down to mental toughness. Who can take the most? Who is most determined to keep his comeback going? Who is best prepared for this crash of fists and wills?
With everything to lose and everything to gain, both Quillin and Angulo desperately need this win-- and that guarantees this fight will be brutally intense for as long as it lasts.
For a closer look at Quillin vs Angulo, check out our fight night page.
