Arreola: “He’s [Adamek] going to run all night”

By Chris Williams: Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (28-1, 25 KO’s) makes it pretty clear that he thinks that former International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (40-1, 27 KO’s) will be running from him when they meet on April 24th, at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California. In their recent press conference Arreola, 28, said in an interview by Ring.tvt: “Of course he [Adamek] can handle my power. To me it really doesn’t matter. If you can carry your weight up, but will he? I don’t think so. I don’t think he’s going to fight me the way he fought in the cruiserweight and light heavyweight. He’s going to run a lot. I am going to chase him and be ready to go 12 rounds and chase him around the ring.”

It’s pretty clear that Arreola will have little choice but chase Adamek all night if he wants to beat him. Although Adamek used to be a slugger as a light heavyweight and cruiserweight, but as a heavyweight, Adamek doesn’t seem to have the same kind of power that he possessed at light heavyweight and cruiserweight.

In Adamek’s last fight against 2nd tier heavyweight Jason Estrada on February 6th, Adamek spent much of the fight running from the light-hitting Estrada. It worked well, as Estrada was rarely able to connect with any shots. However, Estrada didn’t even try to throw shots much of the time and instead made the mistake of not letting his hands go enough until the fight had gotten way out of hand in the latter stages of the fight. Adamek’s punches had no effect on Estrada, and looked weak compared to the big power that he had at cruiserweight.

One good thing that Adamek has going for him against Arreola is that both fighters appear to be the same height. Arreola is listed at 6’4”, but when he stopped facing the 6’1” Adamek, he appeared to be the exact same height as him. But whatever the case, Adamek doesn’t hit as hard as Arreola and will have to stay on the move or else Arreola may hurt him or bust him up with his heavy shots.

Arreola says “I guarantee you that I do hit a lot harder than they [cruiserweights] do. I hope he [Adamek] fights me. That we trade toe to toe, but I don’t think so. Anyone can run. Eventually he’s going to run out of room to run to. I can box. I know how to move. In my last fight against [Brian] Minto, I showed my legs. That I can move if need be. I can box. I can get on my toes. I’m dead serious about being 240. No more than 245. He’s [Adamek] going to come in there trying to run. And I’m going to have to follow him. I’ve got to be at 240 to 245. Not just in this fight but every fight from now on.”

Arreola looks very serious about getting his weight down from the mid 250s, which Arreola has been fighting at in his last five fights. Arreola has to be light as possible to be able to chase down Adamek. If Arreola comes in at the mid 250s, he’ll have problems catching up to Adamek.

It isn’t that Adamek looked particularly swift on his feet in his last fight against Estrada, because he looked pretty slow on his feet. However, Adamek never seemed to stop moving for an instant and his movement was clearly frustrating for Estrada. Adamek showed little speed and looked small and fat at 220. Arreola should be able to catch up to Adamek without any problems if Arreola can get down to 240. If the fight comes down to a one on one fight with both fighters slugging, Adamek will likely be stopped or badly beaten up by the much stronger Arreola.

Adamek doesn’t plan on standing in front of Arreola and making it easy for him, saying “I’m a thinking man’s boxer. I can adjust to whatever a person is doing. I’ve got to go in the ring with Arreola boxing first, fighting second. If I have a chance to do both, I will do it.”

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