Chris Arreola, Paul Williams heading back to Inland Empire

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With a Lakers-Oklahoma City Thunder exhibition game scheduled Oct. 24 and a string of big concerts coming (Metallica, Carrie Underwood), the new Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario will be a popular destination for those of us living east of the 210-57 interchange.

The arena’s first boxing show is coming Nov. 29, boxing sources say -- an HBO-televised card featuring middleweight Paul Williams and Riverside’s unbeaten heavyweight, Chris Arreola.

Opponents have not been finalized, and the fighters’ promoter, Dan Goossen, declined to comment about the card. A formal announcement is expected Thursday.

The opposition should be stiffer than the last time out. Both Williams and Arreola ended their bouts in short order last month on the same card at Soboba Casino in Riverside County, prompting some criticism of Goossen’s matchmaking and Arreola’s fitness. The latter showed up weighing more than 250 pounds.

Goossen has defended the action in recent days. ‘When it’s a good KO, it’s a good KO,’ he said.

--Lance Pugmire

Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times