Chris Arreola
The Spit Bucket
It’s ready or not for ArreolaÂ
There isn’t on African American heavyweight near the title picture, but one who has
Blacks surrounding him is Mexican American Chris Arreola of Riverside.
Arreola is being advised by the Governor of boxing Al Haymon and managed by Sam Watson, two of the most visible men of color on the boxing landscape.
So, you can expect both Haymon and Watson to be near ringside when Arreola takes on Vitali Klitschko for the WBC title at Staples Center on Sept. 26.
There are several big questions surrounding Arreola besides his weight. Is he taking on the steel fisted hammer Klitschko too soon? Not just in terms of where he is in his career, but this fight was talked about for either October or November. September? How long as Arreola been away from the buffet?
Another question aside from his weight is his experience- rounds fought.
Arreola has 10 first round knockouts, five fights ended in the three round and one in the second round. He’s 27-0 with 24 knockouts.
How about his chin? He was floored by an obscure opponent Travis Walker, but got off the canvas to knock him out in the subsequent round.
Is he taking on the wrong Klitschko? Many felt that Wladimir had the glass chink, until he polished his jab and foot movement and it hasn’t been tested since Lamon Brewster.
This is the Klitschko who made his fame in defeat at the same Staples Center in what turned out to be the last fight by The Emperor Lennox Lewis.
Question his physique all you wish, but you will not hear anyone questioning his ability to punch and his heart.
Arreola has a lot of power punching ability and he also has a lot of heart.
The only way Klitschko will beat him is the nearly kill him in the ring. He will not quit.
He also has some advantages over Klitschko, which is age. He’s 28 and Klitschko is 38, or at about that age when a fighter begins to go down hill.
It’s an intriguing match-up, not a blockbuster, but what heavyweight fight is anyway.
This is an opportunity for Arreola to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion in history, and he can invite as many of his homeboys and home girls as he wants.
Among his signature wins are against Chazz Witherspoon and Damon ‘Bolo’ Willis, but this is another level.
Critics say that he can win if he comes in at 250 or more, but the danger is allowing for how much he weighs to be an indicator of how kind of fight shape he’s in.
Arreola is not going to look like Mike Tyson, his midsection is never going to be ripped and it’s doubtful that a 6’7 Klitschko will try to go down there and make himself vulnerable to an Arreola shot to the head.
Promoter Dan Goossen could have waited until both the Klitschko brothers were out of the sport before allowing Arreola to have his shot at the title, but the credibility or money or fame would not have been the same.
You want to be the best-then you beat the best. So ready or not Arreola will have his shot.Â
