By Jim Dower: Former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (41-1, 27 KO’s) defeated a slow and overweight looking Chris Arreola (28-2, 25 KO’s) by a 12 round majority decision last night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California. However, despite winning the fight and getting staggered countless times by Arreola, I didn’t see anything from Adamek that would make me think that he would be anything more than a knockout victim against either of the Klitschko brothers.
Adamek may have been able to beat Arreola, but the Klitschko brothers are a level above both Adamek and Arreola and I don’t see Adamek as being ready now – or ever – to face either of the Klitschko brothers. He’ll get a chance, to be sure, in the near future but I can’t see it being a competitive fight. If anything, I see it being an even more one-sided fight than Wladimir’s recent 12th round knockout win over Eddie Chambers.
Adamek has no power at heavyweight, as he showed last night against Arreola and has to move continuously to keep from having his chin checked. Even with all the movement from Adamek, he still was getting staggered by a huffing and puffing Arreola last night. That, the way that Adamek’s head would snap back violently each time he’d get hit cleanly, doesn’t instill confidence that he’ll get far with the Klitschkos. Perhaps Adamek’s management might be better off steering him towards the WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, who is more or less the same size as Adamek and has chin that might be vulnerable to the shots that Adamek throws.
The 6’0” Arreola took a beating against Adamek, walking into combinations all night long because of his limited height and reach. Arreola was right there in Adamek’s wheelhouse throughout the fight, and by the 12th round, Arreola’s face had swelled up badly, making him look like he was wearing a Halloween mask. Adamek stayed on the move constantly, circling the ring and making Arreola chase after him.
Arreola looked like someone who had taken off a lot of weight in a short period of time and the weight loss appeared to have a negative effect on his conditioning. Arreola was gasping for breath after only three rounds and not looking good. Adamek came in and out, landing quick combinations and then moving away to the outside. He didn’t like a heavyweight in size but rather a pumped up cruiserweight. The speed that he had from the cruiserweight seemed to be too much for Arreola to cope with. Arreola missed often with his shots, and didn’t land enough in most rounds. Arreola hurt Adamek in the 5th and the 10th, staggering Adamek repeatedly but unable to finish him off with a big enough shot.
The final judges’ scores were 114-114, 115-113 and 117-111.
All in all, it was a good win for Adamek, but not one that showed me that he was anywhere good enough to be even competitive with the Klitschko brothers. I think Adamek should focus on beating some top contenders and then maybe wait out WBC Vitali Klitschko until he retires and then go after his vacant title. Right now, I think Adamek would be nothing more than fodder for either Klitschko and would lose badly. I see Alexander Povetkin, Odlanier Solis and possibly Denis Boytsov as being better heavyweights than Adamek. He should try to fight them and see how he does.
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