Arreola may get Wladimir if he gets past Molina

By Boxing News - 02/16/2012 - Comments

Image: Arreola may get Wladimir if he gets past MolinaBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (34-2, 29 KO’s) has a lot of motivation when he takes on Texas heavyweight Eric Molina (18-1, 14 KO’s). The fight between the Mexican – American heavyweights will take place on Saturday night in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Arreola camp believes that if the “Nightmare”, as Chris is known to his fans, gets past Molina he will get a shot at the IBF/WBA/WBO and The Ring heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KO’s). A possible fight between Arreola and Wladimir has been discussed for the early summer.

Klitschko’s long time trainer Emanuel Steward was recently in Southern California and was quoted in The Sweet Science saying:

“We need a good heavyweight fight. That’s what’s missing in boxing. Chris Arreola is a great fighter, an entertaining fighter. He really likes to fight. That’s what boxing needs, a good heavyweight fight.

“People like knockouts. That’s what fans like to see. They don’t want to see two guys boxing around.”

Arreola already had one shot at the heavyweight crown when he faced WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-3, 40 KO’s) in September 2009. In that fight a clearly overweight Arreola suffered TKO when the fight was stopped by his corner between rounds. Since that time Chris has taken a new lease on life and has decided to take advantage of his boxing skills by shedding approximately twenty pounds in weight.

Arreola’s trainer Henry Ramirez concedes that Molina is a dangerous opponent for Chris. Ramirez also said that Molina will do everything he can to defeat Arreola and replace him as an opponent for Wladimir.

In recent months Klitschko has expressed an interest in possibly taking on Arreola in the United States. Wladimir, who has fought almost exclusively in Germany over the last few years, would like to use a fight against the crowd pleasing Arreola to raise his public awareness on this side of the Atlantic.

Wladimir has taken some criticism for taking on Jean-Mark Mormeck (36-4, 22 KO’s) who he fights on March 3 at the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany. The reality is however that Klitschko was not able to line up a more worthy opponent and had to settle for Mormeck after being turned down by a number of other heavyweight contenders.



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