OnThEGRiND BoXiNG

Monday August 24th, 2009
by Alex McIntyre - OnThEGRiND BoXiNG Scotland

Upon hearing the news from Chris Arreola’s trainer Henry Ramirez that Chris intends to “come out with guns ablaze” in his WBC Heavyweight Title clash with Vitali Klitschko, my thoughts instantly shot back to the 24th of January 1976 when “Big” George Foreman looked to rebound from his agonizing loss to Muhammed Ali by facing Ron Lyle in one of the greatest Heavyweight Slugfests of all time. Multiple knockdowns and a huge display of punching power were the order of the day back then, and although heavyweight boxing has fallen on hard times of late I wonder if we might just get a resurgence of sorts with this clash of the big men at Staples Center on Sept 26.

Vitali Klitschko has taken a fight that will certainly give the fans something to chew on, as it’s been a while since we last saw a Heavyweight Championship fight with any fireworks (well at least in the ring anyway). Arreola has a great attitude and I admire the passion within him although i can’t help feeling it will all be for nothing if he doesn’t make a serious effort to come into this contest in fighting shape. Vitali will be delighted to see a 255Ib out of shape Chris Arreola stand in front of him before the opening bell, so it is imperative that Arreola backs up the big talk of new training regimes and dietary habits by putting in the effort required for such a huge fight, the biggest of his career so far.

In a recent interview with OnThEGRiND BoXiNG RaDIo, The World’s Number 1 Boxing Podcast, Chris laid out the new regime and talked a little about the prospect of fighting Vitali. On his new strength and conditioning coach Chris said, “He’s been kicking my butt and teaching me how to eat right, I can’t say much about it because he has a proven track record, he worked with Shane Mosley, he worked with Jeff Lacy, and he worked with Winky Wright for a while so I think he’s a really good guy.” Arreola went on to say “He has all kinds of contraptions and my legs are getting a lot stronger, I can see it in the way I throw punches now, and also I feel like there’s more power in my punches.” When asked about dropping the extra weight Chris was also forthcoming, “I’ve been noticing a big difference,I’ll look a lot leaner, we don’t have a target weight wherever my body falls that’s where its gonna fall.”

With 60 knockout’s between them one thing’s for sure, this fight will not go the full 12 rounds. While many people predict Vitali with have his way with the young American, I have a sneaky feeling that Arreola could give Klitschko hell, and might even spring an upset. When asked about facing the giant Ukrainian Chris was in good humour, “Whenever they’re ready to go I’ll be ready, I believe that Vitali’s body with all those years of roids is deteriorating.” Vitali isn’t getting any younger and there will come a day when he finds himself in with a younger hungrier fighter, and when it comes to hunger and appetite that’s one thing that Arreola has in abundance. Arreola may indeed want to test Vitali to the body as it’s pretty much a given that Klitschko has a fairly solid jaw.

All jokes to one side Vitali hasn’t fared too badly since his return from long term injury. He inflicted a heavy beating on Samuel Peter back in October 2008, and although tested by the plucky Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez in March of this year he eventually showed his class with a 9th round stoppage of the former Cruiserweight Champ. It’s a long shot for Arreola but it’s also a massive opportunity for the man they call “The Nightmare” as he attempts to become the first boxer of Mexican heritage to win a World Heavyweight Title.

Chris said, “I wanna make history. Like I said before and I’ll say it again, I wanna be the Mexican Jack Johnson”. Arreola better grab this with both hands because I doubt he will be given another shot especially in his home town.
Come Sept 26th there is going to be some bombs flying in the Staples Center, so ladies and gentlemen be sure not to blink!