http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=6687655 Heavyweight contender Cristobal Arreola will stay busy with his fourth fight of the year -- and third since mid-May -- when he fights July 9 in Atlantic City, N.J., promoter Dan Goossen told ESPN.com Monday night. Arreola will face Las Vegas-based Nigeria native Friday Ahunanya (24-7-3, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round bout. It will take place on the undercard of the Paul Williams-Erislandy Lara junior middleweight bout, which headlines an HBO "Boxing After Dark" card. Goossen said HBO, although not televising Arreola's bout, will show highlights. The opening fight of the HBO doubleheader will be junior featherweight titlist Akifumi Shimoda (23-2-1, 10 KOs) of Japan in a mandatory defense against California's Rico Ramos (19-0, 10 KOs) ***************************** Shite fight but it seems Arreola has decided the best way to keep his weight down is keep fighting.
I remember watching his fight with Liakhovich an not being very impressed with either at the time. Just checked boxrec to see when that was - 10 YEARS AGO! To top that off he got outpointed by DAVID TUA last year. Terrible fighter.
That was my point. Bottom line is Arreola may well reckon that guys like Haye, Wlad, Vitali and Adamek, no matter what happens in their next fights, have very little time left, and that he could be in a prime position to pick up a title belt very soon, if he can stay in shape.
I think this new and improved version of Arreola could possibly be competitive with the likes of Adamek and Haye. For that matter, Haye hasn't really beaten anyone as good as Arreola at HW.
Maybe Arreola at 230 is a test for anyone, but he remains down the pecking order after back to back losses- unfair perhaps but thats how it is. Wlad has Haye, and the winner of that will more than likely be stripped of one belt or the other thanks to mandatory conflicts, should Wlad win, or should Haye win, Haye's own "imminent retirement" {} Arreola knows there are going to be some very meaty scraps available anytime from July 2nd on.
Perhaps Arreola knows that the path to a title shot is to deceptively look like shit against average fighters.
He isn't looking deceptively shit. He is looking alright, all things considered. He might have won one round vs Vitali when he was fat, he might well win a lot more than 1 round vs some other champion if he can stay active and stay in shape. I think his recent attitude-adjustment is pretty well-conceived. Its obvious that Wlad, Vitali, Adamek Haye, Chagaev, Valuev, Barrett, Dimitrenko, Tua etc are either finished or approaching the end and that leaves Arreola sitting pretty if he can stay in shape.
Adamek, yes, but not Haye imo. I like Arreola but Haye is a LOT faster and just all around better. I think Haye would decision him easily or knock him out late.
