Let’s start with the heavyweights. Most of you will remember big Chris Arreola, as a hard-punching Mexican-American who usually delivers excitement in the ring. For sake of full disclosure, I’ve known Chris -- very casually -- for a few years. Hence, my opinion of both him, and his career, may not be fully objective.
Few sports fans outside of the boxing community know that Chris was a top national amateur, but in the light heavyweight division. As a pro, he has not had the self-discipline needed to always enter the ring in good enough shape to deliver his “A game.” In his early pro career, he could get by on less, because he was strong, hit very hard, took a solid punch, and was (and is) very intelligent in “ring smarts.” His love of shocking television interviewers in post-fight chats with numerous “f-bombs” made him appear, in my opinion, someone fans could relate to as a tough guy/friend.
However, too frequently, the ring reputation one attains ends up working against a man. It did with Chris, in that he challenged Vitali Klitschko for a title in September of 2009. He was far too inexperienced for that bout, and he came in too heavy to bob-and-weave. One needs to be at their best potential to fight either of the Klitschko brothers: Chris was stopped in ten brutal rounds.
Two fights later, he came in out-of-shape, and was out-hustled by Tomaz Ademak in twelve rounds.
Although he has now won seven in a row, it has been against relatively soft opposition. In part, this is due to the weak state of the heavyweight division. But Chris is not yet at the level he was in late ‘08, when he knocked out Travis Walker (28-1-1) in three rounds …..much less at his peak four months later, when he flattened Jameel McCline in four.
Chris turned pro in 2003.His record is 35-2, with 30 knockouts. He is 32, which is not “old” for a heavyweight -- but it’s not young, either. He hasn’t fought in 14 months. If he is going to make another run at the title (both Klitschko brothers will retire fairly soon), he needs to become dedicated to it now.
Stiverne is two years older, at 34. At 6’ 2” tall, he is an inch shorter than Chris. His 80” reach gives him a 4-inch advantage. More, he didn’t have the wear-and-tear of Chris’s extensive amateur career, and though he turned pro in 2005 (2 years after Chris), his 22-1-1 record (20 knockouts) has been at relatively slow pace. He lost to top ten contender Ray Austin (TKO 12); but did decision previously undefeated Franklin Lawrence, a second-tier heavyweight contender.
While Chris could potentially benefit by getting some rounds in, I think he’d do better to end this one as quick as possible -- by the end of the second round. Stiverne has the ability to knock any person he hits cleanly unconscious. Take him out early, then get back in the ring at the end of July.
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