Klitschko and Arreola Ready To Go!
Vitali Klitschko and Chris Arreola both weighed in today at The Staples Centre, LA and are both in the mood for a war.
Vitali weighed in at 18st (252lbs) and Arreola 17st 13lbs (251lbs). As always Vitali looked in excellent shape and as usual Arreola looked fleshy around the midriff.
You can see the weigh-in footage below.
This fight really does have the potential to be the best world heavyweight title fight that we've seen in a while.
Vitali Klitschko has a more exciting style than his more cautious younger brother Vladimir and he is more inclined to trade punches and get involved in a war. Add to this that Chris Arreola is an excellent puncher and fights with an aggressive come forward style and you can see how there may be fireworks.
Vitali hasn't been put down before and does have an iron chin. Similarly Arreola appears to have a solid chin but he has been put down before, albeit rising to win by KO. However, Arreola hasn't been in with somebody who can punch as hard as Vitali, or with somebody who has such a long and strong jab. I'm not convinced that Arreola is going to be able to take those strong hard right hands that I expect Vitali will start to land.
I think that Chris is well trained and motivated for this fight but he is young and this is his first shot at a world title and there is a chance that the occassion may be too much for him. I hope not. He doesn't appear the type to be intimidated and I feel he will give it everything he has. I just don't think that this will be enough.
Vitali is as tough as they come and he has all the physical advantages, as is usually the case. With heavyweights you never know, everything can change with one big shot and if Arreola can last into the later rounds maybe Vitali's stamina will be severely tested.
However, I see a fairly short exciting fight with some good exchanges. I think Vitali will start to land his jab regularly and catch Chris with some big rights. I see Arreola going down but gamely getting back up to fight on. I expect Vitali will have ended proceedings by the 6th.