On September 26 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his title against unbeaten Mexican American Chris Arreola. The fight will be televised on HBO World Championship Boxing.
Staples Center previously played host to two of Klitschko's biggest bouts. In June of 2003, Lennox Lewis stopped Klitschko, on the basis of a deep laceration over Klitschko's left eye caused by a punch, after six wildly entertaining rounds of championship action. Almost a year later at the same venue, Dr. Ironfist would finally seize the vacant the title belt, following Lewis's retirement from the sport in December of 2003, with a eight round stoppage of Corrie Sanders.
Arreola remains relatively unproven at the world class level, as his biggest victories have come against Chazz Witherspoon, Travis Walker, and Jameel McCline. Walker was able to knock Arreola down in the second round of their fight, but Arreola rose from the canvas to knock Walker out and emerge victorious by way of a 3rd round TKO. The brash, vulgar speaking challenger is now set to face Klitschko for the WBC title, in what will be his first world title fight. Is the unbeaten yet unproven 28 year old California native ready to accept such a demanding task? Will he be as physically prepared as he will be mentally for the fight?
Arreola has never faced an opponent the ilk of either Klitschko brother - Vitali or Wladimir (who is the universally recognized heavyweight champion of the world). Arreola can punch well with both fists and has a puncher's chance, but that's the case with most heavyweights. Taking into account Klitschko's height and reach advantages, coupled with Arreola's tendency to enter his fights over weight, this reporter believes he's going to have a difficult time finding the target on Klitschko.
One must also consider the durability factor between these two heavyweights. Klitschko and Lewis exchanged bombs for six brutal rounds, with neither pugilist succumbing to the punishment that was being dished out and received in that fight. Arreola on the other hand, found himself on the floor at the hands of Walker, who is not exactly an elite level world beater!
In any case, boxing has a quite a schedule in store for this fall. Between Mayweather vs. Marquez, Pavlik vs. Williams, Klitschko vs. Arreola, and Pacquiao vs. Cotto all taking place within the next three months, the end of the summer will only mark the beginning of some sensational world class boxing competition.
Tune in to HBO World Championship Boxing on the evening of September 26 for Klitschko vs. Arreola!
Chris Arreola gets his title shot against Vitali Klitschko, but is he ready for it?
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4 comments:
...and don't forget Showtime's Super Middleweight tournament coming up. It's great to be a boxing fan!
Right you are! The super middleweight tournament on SHOWTIME will indeed be something to watch. Mikkell Kessler, Arthur Abraham (moving in weight from 160lbs), Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch,and Jermain Taylor. I'm still a little skeptical as to why Taylor is a part of this tournament. He's 1-3 in his last four fights, including a KO loss to Pavlik for his middleweight titles, a decision loss to Pavlik in their rematch at 166lbs, and another KO loss to Froch at 168lbs in his last fight. At super middleweight, Taylor is 1-2. I can agree with Boxingtalk's Greg Leon that Allan Green should probably get an opportunity to prove himself in that tournament; he at least deserves to be in that mix before Taylor does.
I really have to question the wisdom of Chris A'smanagement and promoter.Chris may well be a good heavyweight in the future, but to let him in the ring with Vitali K, is at best reckless. Vitali is on a much higher level than Chris. Vitali will Knock him out by the 5th round at the latest which has the potential to ruin Chris Arreola's confidense Big mistake, easy win for Dr. Ironfist. K. Mckee. Tennessee.
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