Klitschko-Arreola: Vitali Faces His Biggest Test since Lennox Lewis
September 18th, 2009
By Dave Lahr: World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KO’s) doesn’t truly understand what he’s up against in facing American Chris Arreola (27-0, 24 KO’s) on September 26th. Klitschko, 38, will be facing a perfect knockout machine against the large 250 pound Arreola.
The effects of Lewis’ punches on Klitschko’s face were evident by the 5th round of their bout in 2003, with Vitali’s left eye and mouth ripped to pieces by Lewis’ big over hand rights and uppercuts.
Arreola is much of the same kind of puncher as Lewis with a big right hand similar to Lewis and an uppercut that he likes to use on the inside. This is a fight where the longer it goes, the more the likelihood that Arreola stops Vitali with one of his big right hands or left hooks.
Since making his comeback last year in October against Peter, Klitschko seems to be fighting at a much slower pace than he did four years ago before he retired from boxing. However, if Klitschko has any chance of winning against Arreola, he has to go after him immediately to try and take Arreola out before his big right hands and uppercuts start to have their effect on Klitschko’s this skin around his eyes.
Klitschko’s skin, for some reason, tends to tear quite easily in his fights, almost like paper. With the power that Arreola has, he’ll have Klitschko’s face looking like a bloody jigsaw puzzle before long if he’s allowed to stick around and trade shots with Klitschko.
There will be no denying Arreola. He’s going to land his shots no matter what defensive strategy that Klitschko deploys. Arreola is too big at 6’4”, and his reach is almost the same as Klitschko at 77”, which means that Arreola will be able to land his long right hands and left hooks without Klitschko being able to lean away to avoid them.
The only way out for Klitschko is to either quit, like he did on his stool in the 9th round against Chris Byrd in 2000, or go toe to toe and beat Arreola down with power shots. There won’t be a decision in this. Arreola will force Klitschko to fight a kind of fight that he hasn’t experienced since Lewis, and unless Klitschko’s will is strong enough and his face can hold up under the pounding from the pounding from Arreola, he’ll be stopped.
Klitschko’s an old man now at 38, showing gray hair all around the sides of his head. It looks as if he might dyed it because I can’t see the gray anymore in recent pictures and video. It doesn’t matter. Vitali is still old and unless he can summon up some of his youth and power from years ago, the talented and powerful Arreola will pound Klitschko into the turf.
I suspect that Arreola will be too powerful for Klitschko and will back him up against the ropes in the first five rounds and have at it until Klitschko collapse in a huge bloody pile on the canvas. It won’t be a pretty sight, I imagine. Wladimir will have to help Vitali up to his feet and take him to his corner where he will be consoled. In the meantime, Arreola will become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of all time. This is going to be quite an achievement for Arreola.
Tags: 26 Responses to “Klitschko-Arreola: Vitali Faces His Biggest Test since Lennox Lewis”
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Can’t they find someone who knows something about boxing to write these articles. This fight went just the way all true boxing fans knew it would. VK totoally dominated no contest whatsoever. This guy should get a job covering a sport he knows something about…
What a laugh. Even JAMES TONEY, of all people, questioned Arreola’s work ethic. “He came into camp at 287 and then went 5 1/2 weeks [and shut it down]. It doesn’t sound like he’s in shape … I want Arreola to win … but Vitali might knock him out.” Expect Arreola to tip the scales close to 270 pounds, as rumors have him partying hard with his crew this week with camp overwith. Vitali is going to annihilate this slob.
I almost feel sorry for Cris. He is stepping up to a whole new level in facing Vitali Klitschko. This will not be Vitali’s biggest test, but it will be Arreola’s.
Thats the problem with you americans, you always underestimate us Russians in everything! For example, when ,in UFC, Fedor Emelianenko went against Hong Man Choi. Everyone said that Fedor was going to lose. Then BOOM! He got Hong in an Armbar in the FIRST round, makeing him tapout.
the best thing about this fight is that arreola will make it a fight,win or lose,he will be here to fight,and he does have power,of course,he is going to have to take it to the big guy,but i think it will be very interesting,and i rule nothing out
“Chris arreola is big”
Yes arreola might be big, but vitali klitschko is MONSTROUS.
Did you see the photo of two guys posting together?Arreola looked like a kid next to vitali
This columnist gets points for making me laugh !!!
Earth to Dave Lahr – Arreola is the huge underdog for this fight , not Vitali Klitschko.
I would not like to be you after the fight.
ooooooh my God, who the hell is Dave, well i have just one question for you, DO YOU HAVE A BEEF WITH THE IRON FIST?????? uuummm sorry, two questions for you, where are from?????????, oh.. it’s three questions and i wll go… HAVE YOU WATCH THE IRON FIST FOUGHT BEFORE???????????????, COS IF YOU DO, YOU WOUN’T BE WRITING THIS RUBBISH ARTICLE, OHH..WELL, I GUESS WRITING IS FREE, SO YOU CAN WRITE WHATEVER THING YOU LIKE… I DON’T BLAME YOU………..
Dave, I can only come up with five possible explanations for your article:
1. you’re totally kidding
2. you’re hoping more people will bet Arreola so you’ll get better odds on Vitali than 9 to 1
3. you’re stupid and don’t realize it
4. your article has nothing to do with boxing, you’re involved in some covert operation and you’re speaking in code.
5. you fell asleep next to an open tube of model glue, woke up feeling disoriented and decided to post something
Arreola will treat Vitali like a Pinata!
On Sept 26th Chris will bring the belt back to the USA!
Joe Blow is silly if he thinks that Arreola has a chance here ….. maybe against the younger brother (Wladimir), but not Vitali..honestly face the facts.
This is a battle of wills and determination!
I think Arreola is going to be a storm in this battle! The question is will Vitali weather the Storm?
An unfortunate cut (only) stopped Vitali from a soon defeat of Lennox, for the Heavyweight champion of the world.
He is still in amazing conditon ready to go with the very best.
Arreola does not deserve this opportunity.
Do not “blink your eyes” in the first round!
are you the real deal Pantera? My favourite band.
You must have written this article to ruffle feathers. The Lewis fight was THE ONLY fight Vitali was cut up in. This is a fairy tale you’ve concocted little fella. VITALI WINS SO EASILY!!!
Put away the cheerleading costume next time you write an article.
thanks-PA
Arreola’s big….that’s it. I’d have given him more respect and chance if he layed off the twinkies and work on his fitness instead of gaining weight. I’m afraid Arreola’s stamina will just cave at around 5 or 6, just about ripe for Vitali to pound him senseless. Vitali TKO by 6 or 7
Arreola will loose 100%
Arreola is not even in the same league as Lennox. He would have had a better chance if he’d got himself fit, but it looks like someone forgot to tell him he was fighting for a world title and instead he’s entering the ring with his kfc family bucket. Yet another slow over weight fighter for Klitschko to jab to death all night. You need to be able to move with speed to stand a chance against either brother.
Chris arreola aint no Lennox Lewis…
Arreola too much for Vitali? What a joke. Arreola hasn’t faced a guy in the top 20 yet, much less been fighting a champion. Vitali Klitschko is a very ring-savvy boxer (add in his kickboxing career & amateurs and he has had a few hundred fights, and a lot of experience in fighting elite fighters – which Arreola has ZERO experience)with a higher KO ratio than Chris. Klitschko has never been knocked off his feet in a pro fight. Arreola has. This is going to be a one-sided beating with Arreola on the receiving end.
Vitali ain’t fightin’ no Sam Peter. Arreola is a way better fighter and he’s going to get in close and break Vitali down. NO DOUBT!
I look forward to a great fight! Arreola will put up a much better fight than you guys think!
Dave, are we forgetting that Vitali pummeled Sam Peter into submission last year, peter is a much better fighter then “the nipple”.
What on earth leads you to believe that Arreola’s movement is good enough to get inside the long jab of the russian…
Thats what i hate about this website, people writing articles that have no knowledge of the fight game, they just blabber on about what they thing will happen……
Also please don’t mention Lennox in the same breath as Arreola there is a rediculous gulf between the two!
Arreola by Late round TKO!
i dont think arreola knows what hes up against…hes up against the highest knockout percentage in world heavyweight championship history. this is going to be a boxing lesson resulting in a ko for vitali…easy pick for me