By Michael Gibbons

Don Haskins Convention Center, El Paso, Texas -  With a potential world title shot hanging above, heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (36-4-1, 31KOs) fought to a ten round draw with Fred Kassi (18-3-1, 10KOs). The scores were 96-94 for Arreola, 95-95 on the remaining two cards.

Kassi was coming back from a seven round knockout loss to Amir Mansour last November. It is now up for debate if Arreola will move forward to a crack at WBC champion Deontay Wilder on September 26th.

After the fight, Arreola admitted that he likely "did not do enough" to earn a shot at Wilder.

Arreola was using a jab in the first round, but started going with power shots, mostly to the head, in the second. Kassi was able to land a shot here and there, but couldn't do enough to rattle Arreola. He used the ring well, showing movement and angles to cause problems for Arreola in the second.

During the third, Arreola's left eye started swelling up. Kassi was starting to put better punches together, with Arreola allowing himself to get outworked.

Arreola came out swinging in the fourth and he was trying to change the course of the fight by landing big punches to both the head and body. Kassi was shook up a few times and was using his jab and distance to weather the storm.

The fight was evening up as the rounds played out, with Kassi coming off with some decent shots of his own. The action had twists and turns. Arreola was getting off with some heavy shots, none of which appeared to seriously hurt Kassi, who was usually the better finisher in the closing seconds.