By Jim Dower: After losing for the second time in his past three fights, heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (28-2, 21 KO’s) needs to make some changes in his career, whether that be committing himself to his diet and training or focusing on fighting guys that don’t move as much. Whatever it takes, Arreola needs to make some drastic changes in a number of areas in his game if he wants to be anything more than just a contender and trial horse. Arreola was soundly beaten by former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek (41-1, 27 KO’s) last Saturday night by a 12 round majority decision.
Arreola may have had a 114-114 score on the card of one of the judges, but the other two saw Adamek winning the fight, as did I. I had Adamek winning the fight 8 rounds to 4. The problem for Arreola is that he didn’t have the mobility needed to go after Adamek, and because of that, he ended up taking a lot of shots from the Polish heavyweight. Arreola looked gassed after first four or five rounds from having to chase Adamek around the ring to try and catch him with a big shot.
All the moving wasn’t easy for Arreola to do, and it seemed to affect his power in a negative way. Arreola might have been offer staying planted and just turning in the direction of Adamek when he was circling and focusing on punching with Adamek when he would come in range to throw his own shots. I think Arreola would have been able to conserve his strength better and would have had a better chance at hitting Adamek with his shots.
But first of all, Arreola needs to get his diet under control if he wants to be a factor in the heavyweight division. Arreola reportedly entered training camp weight close to 300 pounds, which for a 6’0” heavyweight, is far too much weight for him to be carrying around. The work that Arreola must have had to have put in to get down to 250 likely had a big effect on his conditioning. Taking that much weight off in a short period of time the way that Arreola did isn’t smart. He needed to take the weight off a little more slowly but over longer period of time.
Arreola also needs to focus on training even when he’s not fighting. He’s got to watch his weight at all times, because whatever he’s been eating is causing him to balloon up in between fights. Beyond the training and diet, Arreola needs to develop and uppercut that he’s comfortable throwing with either hand. He had countless opportunities to throw an uppercut last Saturday night against Adamek when the Polish heavyweight was in close and leaning forward. He was practically begging to be hit with an uppercut, yet Arreola didn’t have one in his arsenal.
As far as his style of fighting goes, Arreola needs to not chase his opponents around the ring. You would have never seen big George Foreman chasing an opponent around the ring after he made his comeback in his 40s. Foreman was smart enough to realize that if he chased them, he’d only tire out and lost power on his shots. Instead, Foreman used his jab and would slowly cut off the ring against his opponents. There was no wasted energy. When his opponent came in close, Foreman would open up with powerful uppercuts and right hands and left hooks.
Foreman loaded with almost everything, but would hold back a little on his power for special occasions. Arreola needs to use Foreman as a role model of how he needs to fight. He doesn’t have the build to be chasing runners like Adamek around the ring all night long and expect to be successful. He needs to work his skills, develop more punches, stay in condition year round and learn to pace himself better. I think once Arreola works on those areas, he will do well against most of the heavyweights in the division, including Adamek.
As for as opponents go, I’d like to see Arreola face someone like Eddie Chambers, Tony Thompson and Samuel Peter once he’s learned how to throw an uppercut in close. I think he would do well against those guys if he has more tools and doesn’t run himself into a state of exhaustion like he did against Adamek.
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