Rumor Mill: Cristobal Arreola vs Vitali Klitschko
According to this article from Yahoo Sports, Arreola, Klitschko and HBO are all interested in making a summer fight between between the two at the Staples Center. Due to the complete and utter corruption of the WBC, Oleg Maskaev is Vitali Klitschko's current mandatory. In a nutshell, the WBC screwed around with Maskaev for years in the saga that was created when Vitali unretired, and after Maskaev threatened to file a lawsuit, the WBC caved and made him the completely unworthy mandatory.
It makes a lot of sense from Vitali's perspective that he would rather face Arreola than Maskaev. He can probably outbox either one rather easily, but Vitali only has a few fights before he has to retire again. Those creaky knees and back of his aren't going to last forever, and he probably needs to cash out as soon as possible, taking whatever big money fights can come to him. With Wladimir already facing the other big draw in David Haye, Arreola is probably the biggest draw that's left. However, it only makes sense for Vitali if HBO kicks in significant amounts of cash. Vitali is already a massive draw in Germany. Not only did he sell out the house in his boring fight in Germany, but literally half of the country that had the TV on tuned in to watch his fight. Having a fight out on the west coast of the US, he's not going to get nearly as much of a live gate, and German TV won't pay huge fees to syndicate a fight at 2 am.
It also makes a lot of sense from HBO's perspective, if you agree with their mission to bring the heavyweight division back to relevance. While I think that making a big investment in the heavyweight division right now would be relatively fruitless, if they're going to invest in anyone, it might as well be Arreola, and this is the biggest fight that Arreola can get. Senior executives at HBO are calling him "the most exciting heavyweight on the planet," and he might help tap a demographic that hasn't had much interest in the heavyweight division in the past. On a personal level, I wish they'd spend their big bucks on fights that I think would be competitive, but chances are that the fight wouldn't be a complete stinker.
It just doesn't seem to make much sense for Arreola. The article mentions that he'd get about a $2 million payday out of this fight, as opposed to about $400,000 that he's been making his past few fights. Maybe his camp really thinks he's as good as he'll ever get, and they want to cash out before Vitali has to retire. Maybe they're gambling that Arreola will still be a viable contender after the Vitali fight, because he'll be exciting and will hold his own against one of the best, making him into a bigger star than he already is. I just don't see it. There are two other beltholders in Wladimir and Valuev that Arreola actually has a chance of beating due to his style. I think Vitali would give him such a one-sided beatdown that it wouldl literally ruin him as a fighter. It's his aggressiveness that makes him fun to watch, but as we've seen with Jeff Lacy (among others), a fighter who wins on aggression can get ruined by a one-sided beatdown, especially if their head isn't in the right place before the bell ever rings.
If I was part of Arreola's management, I'd play it safer. Arreola is second in line to be a mandatory for Wladimir at the moment. Within a couple years, he'll get that fight. The $2 million he'd get fighting 5 decent but not great fighters in the meantime would be about the same as the $2M he'd get for getting destroyed by Vitali. Arreola at least has a chance of putting Wladimir on his ass, but would have little chance of doing the same to Dr. Ironbeard.
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agreed
Plus he’s just not dedicated enough right now to stand a chance against Vitali. I read that he was far more motivated for the McCline fight than Walker, and was training conspicuously harder by all accounts, looking to come in at 243-245. Then I read weigh in of 255. (head shaking)
by BrianBrock on Apr 13, 2009 2:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
think you mean wbc not wba
as for the fight, its really interesting. with arreola vs wlad, it was pretty much when and/or if arreola can hit wlad it will be over and can he get on the inside of the jab.
vitali i dont think has a better jab nor is more athletic than his brother but hes a better all around fighter in my opinion (my rankings he would be #1) and hes not scared to death to actually take a punch and can take a solid punch without falling down or holding for dear life.
with alll that said, i think vitali is a better matchup for arreola. the lack of running and less jabs will give chris chances to land his bombs and we’ll see how well vitali can take them giving his age, back, inactivity and such.
should be pretty fun. i’m looking forward to it.
by sonofapsycho on Apr 13, 2009 3:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry about the typos
Didn’t proofread this one as carefully as I should have
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Apr 13, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good Piece Brick
Maybe facing Vitali on the wane is a worthwhile gamble for Arreola. We already know he can’t motivate himself into any kind of fitness; hanging around for another 18 months could see his current WOW factor (use your imagination) disappear.
One of the aforementioned 5 bums could turn up well motivated against Arreola. It’s not to much of a stretch to imagine him getting outworked over 12 rounds and losing an embarrassing decision ala Sam Peter.
So, yeah, maybe its a risk worth taking, going in against Vitali and his bad back.
by Brett87 on Apr 13, 2009 4:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am not going to go as far as to say that Arreola is the Khan of the heavys, but he clearly does not have the best chin in boxing. Yes, is not exciting to see Vitali fight at times and Arreola is a decent fighter that is always active. But it could be a bit dangerous for Arreola to go in there with Vitali judging from Arreolas previous fights. There has been times where he is staggered by a punch and I would not be surprised if the same goes with Vitali numerous times. Who know… there is a lot of time left. So, let see what time will leave us with.
"Count on us! We sponsored Margarito for several years." - CEMEX [Mexico's largest cement company.]
by Sickle on Apr 13, 2009 11:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
His chin seems plenty decent for a guy who just sticks it out there
I mean, he got nailed on the chin pretty hard about 3 or 4 times by McCline, and he only seemed buzzed by one or two of them, and the one time he’s been knocked down it was because he took a knee. But I think it’s safe to say that his chin isn’t good enough to get away with his all-offense no-defense style once he’s facing top dogs on a regular basis.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Apr 13, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He really does leave his chin open enough to cracked completely off a little one of these days. In a way, Chris reminds me of a better version of Joe Hipp. It’s not really a bravado thing, just a problem with his form that probably won’t get corrected before something bad happens. Even if a faded puncher like Oleg manages to slip one in, it could be sheep-counting time. But we’ll know more when he steps up a bit. If he wants to continue ghostbusting, however, I’d almost like to see him step in against Shannon Briggs. Also, Liakovich is a minor name and good all around fighter, if he decides he wants to keep fighting. But Valuev is the 800 pound gorilla in the room, so to speak, and I’d love to see Chris get it on with him the most.
"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko
by jrok on Apr 13, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh Cristobal
You would have to give him a punchers chance with Vitali.
I dont think Arreola has a weak chin, he is a natural tough guy so why bother slipping punches when he can take one, love it and land back. Thats what makes him exciting right? He is improving i saw him move his head once or twice and those combos to Mclines body were wicked. But you all know this.
This thing with Arreloas weight:. Yes he has a beerbelly and he has tits like i have tits but he is winning. Mainly by knockout. Tubbs & Page looked like a dozen donuts on legs and they grabbed a belt. BIG George Foreman too in the 90s , And Christobal is way faster with his shots. He seems content at the weight and it might not really be that big a factor.
"Welcome to Old Navy"- Dave Ming Chang.
by dinkman on Apr 13, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure I give anyone a puncher's chance against Vitali
I can’t remember ever seeing him hurt, and frankly, he was a major omission on my part when I put together the best chins list. Just didn’t think of him until now, for some reason.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Apr 13, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vitali
Only time i seen him hurt or i think he was hurt was some monster Lennox Lewis uppercut in that classic. After taking it they kind of got into a clinch and Vitali was arched over. I thought Sanders made him backpedle a few times as well.
Still Bricky you are right it probably did not hurt him at all. Vitali is tough but not unbeatable. Pele Reid once knocked him out. But that was another time and another ball game.
"Welcome to Old Navy"- Dave Ming Chang.
by dinkman on Apr 13, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seeing Arreola in that Kobe Bryant jersey suddenly makes me like him….
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
by Matt Miller on Apr 13, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hmm. Had the exact opposite effect on me.
by lcollins1 on Apr 13, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i went from liking arreola to despising everything about him once i saw that photo
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Apr 14, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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