Much Hullabaloo About Nothing?
By: Andrew Harrison
tags: chris arreola, david haye, lennox lewis, vitali klitschko, wladimir klitschko
Category: chris arreola, david haye, lennox lewis, mike tyson, vitali klitschko, wladimir klitschko
Word is beginning to circulate that unbeaten heavyweight prospect Chris Arreola is the latest punter to go up against one half of the Klitschko monster (big brother Vitali) next month and this, we are being informed rather loudly, is a very exciting occurrence.
Now unless I’m missing something (wouldn’t be the first time my friends)…..I don’t……quite…..get….it.
The boys over on RingTV.com are seemingly cock-a-hoop about this, editor Michael Rosenthal leading his report with, “When was the last time you were truly excited about a heavyweight fight? Can’t remember? Neither can I.”
I can Mike and it wasn’t that long ago either.
It was when the thunder fisted and suspect chinned David Haye was scheduled to collide with man mountain and fellow dynamite-fisted-big-man-with-a-questionable-chin, Wladimir Klitschko. Throw in the media grabbing hoopla which Haye had generated along with the fact it was a bonafide grudge match with genuine edge and I was juiced.
On top of all that, Haye also genuinely seemed to be winning the psychological warfare campaign he’d instigated which appeared to narrow the gulf Wlad’s experience and size advantages had afforded him.
That to me, was the most exciting encounter this god awful division has had in the pipeline since Lennox Lewis’s also suspect chin went up against the still fabled punching power of a severely shopworn Mike Tyson. Haye was coming to ignite a barrel full of fireworks, which would have in turn forced Wlad to answer in kind (against his better nature and more natural urges).
As for Vitali against Arreola, all I see is a squat, fat and underconditioned, face first and easy to hit brawler in against a well conditioned and methodical fighting machine, well versed in dealing with fat, underconditioned face first types. Meat and drink to Klitschko No:1.
I completely fail to see the attraction in Arreola (better just check I used two R’s there). To my admittedly deteriorating eyes, he’s an extremely sloppy puncher with poor technique whom I don’t imagine will remotely bother Vitali in the slightest. If David Tua was a poor man’s Mike Tyson, Arreola is a destitute man’s David Tua.
I see yet another one sided procession win here.
Perhaps it’s just me but how can anyone with two eyes favour this fight over Haye-Wlad in terms of excitement? Vitali has a chin like an anvil and Arreola’s only chance of victory is an early kayo…….yet he’s unlikely to even land on the big guy due to his speed and poor form. Result? Dead duck.
Or should I give in to my cynicism and suggest the fact that Arreola is Mexican-American and not yet another European is the real reason some folk are getting a wee bit carried away?
Spot on Haz. Just ask Kirk Johnson what Vital does to overweight and out-of-shape American heavyweights. Arreola will be brave, but ultimately outclassed. Klitschko in 6!
I think we could be looking at a blowout here Dave, America must be bloody desperate if they’re putting all their chips on Arreola, deary me……….
You can say that again Haz. Arreola reminds me of Clifford Ettiene. An entertaining heavy, but by no means a threat at world title level. I can see this being a replica of Vitali’s destruction of Danny Williams.