Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola possible for summer

By Boxing News - 05/26/2016 - Comments

arreola45

By Jeff Aranow: 35-year-old former two-time world title challenger Chris Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) is the fighter that is being talked about as WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s opponent for his next fight in July, according to a source from the LA Times.

Wilder was given another voluntary defense by the World Boxing Council after his previous opponent Alexander Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium. Wilder was supposed to fight Povetkin on May 21 in Moscow, Russia.

Wilder wants Arreola as his opponent, according to the LA Times. Arreola isn’t ranked in the top 15 by any of the four sanctioning bodies at this time. However, the WBC will likely give Arreola a quick top 15 ranking as soon as Wilder’s promoter Lou Dibella makes it official.

This could be a potentially dangerous fight for Wilder if he can’t get Arreola out of there quickly. Arreola can still punch hard, and Wilder’s chin isn’t the greatest. Wilder was shaken up by big shots from Eric Molina and Johann Duhaupas in voluntary defenses.

Arreola can punch harder than those guys, and he’ll have a real chance of beating Wilder if he can connect with some of his shots. Wilder is one of those heavyweights who can dish it out but who can’t take it very well. A guy like Arreola has the power and the fighting style to hand Wilder his first defeat.

Arreola lost to Bermane Stiverne by a 6th round knockout in 2014 in a failed attempt to win the vacant WBC heavyweight title. Arreola also was stopped in the 10th round by former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in 2009. The 35-year-old Arreola may not get another chance if he fails to defeat Wilder. Arreola has not looked good in his last four fights against Curtis Harper, Stiverne, Fred Kassi and Travis Kauffman.

Arreola appeared to lose the fight against Kassi in July of last year, but the judges scored it a 10 round draw. Arreola barely beat Kauffman by a 12 round decision, but the fight results were changed to a no contest after Arreola tested positive for a banned substance.

There are few options for the 6’7” Wilder in the WBC’s top 15. He’s beaten six of them. #15 WBC Gerald Washington is an opponent that is rumored to be in the running for the Wilder fight. Washington, 6’7”, would be an interesting opponent for Wilder if he were to be selected. However, it doesn’t look like Wilder wants him as his next challenger.