Three Times a Nightmare for Chris Arreola
BoxingGlove Notes
Distinio Lois, Jr.
Three attempts at becoming the first Mexican in boxing history to win the World Heavyweight Title resulted in three knockout failures for veteran journeyman Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, 36-5-1, 31 knockouts.
Last night, Saturday, July 16, 2016 at the Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama, Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 37-0, 36 k.o.’s , W.B.C. Heavyweight Champion, severely battered Arreola a last minute substitute for 7 rounds before Arreola’s corner men mercifully stopped the one-sided fight in the 8th round.
When Wilder’s contracted original opponent Alexander Povetkin was disqualified because he tested positive for drugs-Meldonium-a substance banned by W.A.D.A.-World Anti-Doping Association, Arreola gladly stepped in.
Chris Arreola already training for another fight quickly accepted this fight stating that, “maybe this time 3 Times is a Charm”.
Unfortunately, in this 3rd time Arreola took a worse beating than the previous 2 championship fights, with now retired Vitali Klitschko, and then by Bermane Stiverne.
Throughout all of the press conferences Arreola expressed confidence in being victorious, because “I have trained harder this time than for anyone of my previous fights, my weight is down, I have studied many of Wilder’s fight films, and I know all of his weaknesses even though he hits hard. I am ready to win and make history.”
Deontay Wilder responded “talk is cheap and he knows that I will beat him like my gym punching bag. I am the best and toughest heavyweight on the planet, everyone knows it and Arreola will painfully find that out on Saturday.”
The standing room only sell-out Wilder fans from his home town of Tuscaloosa saw Wilder methodically and viciously break Arreola down from the very first round using his piston-like powerful left jab taught by his mentor former world champ Mark Breland, keeping Arreola at bay.
Arreola’s valiant attempts to hit Wilder were by rushing him but a fleet footed Wilder moved out of harm’s way and countered with punishing right hands and left hooks, blooding Arreola’s nose.
In the 3rd round Arreola did manage to force Wilder on the ropes and hit him with combinations of head and body punches but they were short lived as Wilder was able to jab his way off the ropes and also throwing hard right hand uppercuts hurting Arreola forcing him to hold on.
In the 4th round as Arreola was punching effectively he was hit by a hard right hand by Wilder knocking him down and almost out. After taking the mandatory eight count, he covered up desperately as the bell sounded.
By the 6th round Arreola’s face was bloody with both eyes beginning to close as Wilder surprisingly decided to just jab him round after round until the fight stoppage in the 8th round.
At the ring side interview Deontay Wilder stated that he felt that he had broken his right hand and also tore his right bicep muscle around the 4th round. Despite the pain he continued to fight because he is “a great champ and the ‘baddest’ heavyweight around, and all I needed was my jab to keep Chris in check.”
Wilder further stated, “after I recuperate I will be back to win all of the heavyweight titles and take them home, they belong to me.”
Chris Arreola’s better days in the ring as a heavyweight contender and title threat sadly appear over evidenced by the frightful beating he absorbed from Wilder. He defensive reflexes were gone and his 2 handed punching power were missing without a trace. Arreola was really indeed how Wilder described him, “a gym punching bag”. Sad and Touching!
It is time for this 35 year old great Mexican ring warrior, husband and father of 2 children, to plan a future career outside of the ‘hurt’ business.
Deontay Wilder’s boxing date book is very full of challengers after this his 4th successful title defense.
Waiting in the wings is the winner of Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury championship re-match, undefeated knockout power house Anthony Joshua, 16-0, 16 knockouts & I.B.F. Champ, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz, and of course Alexander Povetkin.
After he escorted Wilder to the nearby Hospital in Alabama, Promoter Lou DiBella stated, “Deontay will rest his injured right hand, will be monitored by doctors and when he is cleared to resume fighting, he’ll be ready to fulfill his dream of owning all of the heavyweight titles.”
The semi-final fight between 2 future welterweight contenders proved why it is imperative that fight judges periodically take refresher training in judging fights.
Ex-Olympian 2008 Gold Medalist Felix Diaz, 17-1, 8 knockouts easily out-pointed local undefeated fan favorite welterweight Sammy Vasquez, 21-0, 15 k.o.’s, veteran soldier who served 2 combat tours in Iraq as a Sergeant. The fight was declared a draw. The shocked fans booed loudly as Diaz grimaced in anger.
Surprisingly, a recount was ordered and it was noticed that the judges had not deducted a point from Vasquez in the 10th and final round after referee Jack Reese penalized him for repeatedly-3 times- spitting out his mouth-piece.
The original score was 95-94-Diaz and the other 2 judges scored 95-95, a majority draw.
After re-calculating and deducting a point from Vasquez, the correct score was then rendered, 95-94 by all 3 judges giving Diaz his well-earned and deserved unanimous victory over Vasquez who was out-punched the entire fight while suffering a severely cut lip.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
Deontay Wilder will be on the disabled list for the remainder of the 2016 boxing year due to the fact that he needs 2 surgeries. The first will be on his broken right hand and the second to repair his torn right bicep muscle.
Hand injuries like these could be career-enders for hard punchers like Wilder, and even for Felix “El Diamante” Verdejo, W.B.O. Latino Lightweight Champ who also has suffered hand fractures, surgeries, re-habs, and then a slow re-start of his promising boxing career.
A boxer’s money making and championship winning tools are his fist bar-non.
Up-Coming fights to watch for:
1)Terence “Bud” Crawford, W.B.O. 140 Pound Champ, 28-0, 20 knockouts vs. Viktor “The Iceman” Postol, 28-0, 12 k.o.’s, W.B.C. 140 Pound Champ a unification title fight and also for the vacant Ring Magazine & Lineal Light Welterweight Crowns. Saturday, July 23, 2016, at the M.G.M. Arena and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada.
2) Leo “EL Terremoto”-Earthquake-Santa Cruz, 32-0-1, 18 knockouts, W.B.A. Super Featherweight Champion vs. Carl “The Jackal” Frampton, 22-0, 14 k.o.’s, Saturday, July 30th 2016 at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
3) Andre “Son of God” Ward, 29-0, 15 knockouts vs. Alexander “Cachaco” Brand, 25-1, 19 k.o.’s from Colombia, Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the Oracle Arena, Oakland, California.
4) Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the 02 Arena, London, Gennady “3G” Golovkin, 35-0, 32 knockouts, will defend his W.B.A, W.B.C., I.B.F., I.B.O., Middleweight Crowns against I.B.F. Welterweight Champion, Kell “The Special One” Brook.
5) Saturday, September 17, 2016, at the AT & T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, Saul “El Canelo” Alvarez, 47-1-1, 33 knockouts, challenging, Liam “Beefy” Smith, Jr., WB.O. Junior Middleweight Champion, 23-0-1, 13 k.o.’s.
Tune in my Black Star News readers.
