From Canada (George Chuvalo) to Argentina (Louis Firpo), North America has been well represented in the heavyweight boxing division. The United States has produced dozens of world class fighters at this biggest classification as well, but despite a wealthy history of producing outstanding champions in various lighter categories (mostly featherweight and bantamweights), the heavyweight crown has never been bestowed on any boxer of Mexican descent.
That may change Saturday night as the WBC’s No.1 contender, Chris Arreola from nearby Riverside via East LA, hopes to make history as he takes on the reigning WBC (World Boxing Council) World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola, 28, is undefeated in 27 fights, winning all but three by knockout. With a swarming, hard-hitting, crowd-pleasing style Arreola will have the support of a highly partisan crowd filled with hometown fans as well as many more coming up from Mexico to support the man they hope will break into the record books by becoming the first-ever Heavyweight World Champion of Mexican heritage.
Some of those behind him include some of the biggest names in Mexican boxing.
“It is always good that a fellow countryman tries to accomplish some feat in boxing. If Arreola defeats Klitschko, he will go down in history as one of the big surprises”, says Julio Cesar Chavez, a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, whose career spanned over a quarter-century and is generally considered the greatest Mexican boxer in history.
Erik Morales, a former seven-time world champion, who defeated fifteen different world champions during the course of his career is well aware of what is at stake.
“It is a real event to Mexican boxing. If Cristobal wins the title, it will be the cherry on top of the cake in the history of Mexican boxing, as we have had great fighters in almost all the weight divisions, but in this one, which is the most difficult in boxing,” says Morales who fought mostly in the bantamweight and featherweight classes.
But even for the 6-4 Arreola it will literally be a tall order because he faces a Ukranian giant with enormous boxing skills that match his 6-7 ½ , 250 pound frame.
“Chris is going up against a bigger man who is not only the superior defensive technician in the division, Vitali is also no worse than the second best offensive fighter in this classification as well, ” says Jim Lampley, one of the preeminent boxing analysts on television.
That is indeed a pretty telling sign of why Klitschko is the reigning champion.
Klitschko, despite being ten years older, has missed a few years from injuries and is thus relatively lightly used.
“Here is a guy who has never been knocked down and never been behind at the end of a fight because his losses were stopped due to injury. Vitali fights with an intelligence and intuition about his opponent and the ring along with a devastating jab and though he does not have the most crowd-pleasing style, the champ remains a very formidable heavyweight, ” reminds Larry Merchant, a leading television boxing analyst and writer.
Still Arreola is not without his strengths, one of which IS a crowd pleasing-style that just might whip the spectators into a fenzy which in turn may spur him on to great heights.
“Because of the crowd and excitement, Arreola will be pumped up”, predicts Lampley, ” The first few rounds are going to be quite interesting. If that shock value and his speed and aggression throws Vitali off and he lands something big, Arreola has an interesting chance.”
Arreola is also considerd to be the better in-fighter, but getting past one of the best and most relentless jabs in the business will be a challenge.
“Chris is going to be on the receiving end of a lot of jabs and Klitschko can outjab anybody”, says Bert Sugar, noted boxing historian and author.
Finding a way past an ever-present jab and getting inside and exerting some pressure is a dangerous game. That is where Arreola’s confidence will be tested and to see if he can endure punches from a big man and keep on going.
“That is precisely where the match will be won and lost”, predicts Merchant.
Dan Goossen, the event promoter, likens the Mexican-American’s chances to a recent surprise champion, from south of the border, in another sport.
“Sports history is littered with heavy underdogs that rise to the occasion and come through. Nobody would’ve wagered that the Argentinian (Juan Martin) Del Potro would beat the two greatest tennis players in the world, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, on his way to the U.S. Open. Chris is hungry, determined, a monster in the ring and I believe his heart will overcome anything Vitali can do to him,” says Goossen who also manages Arreola.
Should Arreola pull off the victory, he is bound to capitalize on a potentially lucrative marketplace.
”I’ve said for more than a decade that the next Mike Tyson or Oscar de la Hoya that blows the doors off the economic equation in boxing will be the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion. The sky’s the limit for that kind of fighter and Chris has the personality and business savvy to score big time,” says Lampley.
Getting past that jab will no doubt be a tall order for Chris Arreola, but “The Nightmare” has come too far not to dream big.
Arreola better get lucky early otherwise ..good night.
Dont forget Klitschko lives in LA as well, so he will have some local fans on hand.
Klitschko is boring to watch, we want someone who takes some chances. Vitali’s like watching people play chess.
The Nightmare will defeat Vitali…timber!!!!!!!!!!
Yes Mexico does have on the best records in boxing. It has produced so many great fighters.