The mispromotion of Chris Arreola

[!!Captain]

I need to start this by asking you to use your brain. I know people will jump in here with responses like "he sux dude, a bum", but please refrain. I am well aware that Chris Arreola is certainly lacking in terms of talent and natural ability. I am well aware of the fact that him ever holding a belt is a long shot at best. I don't think highly of him as a fighter and I am not a particularly big fan. This is not what this thread is about.

I, however, remain perplexed at his promotion regardless. First and foremost he has an impressive when displayed KO record, but that is only one peg. The second is that he is a heavyweight, the easiest division to sell in boxing. He is also Mexican-American. Mexicans draw. This is no secret. He is American too, meaning he can be billed as the American answer. He isn't, but I am talking about the usual marketing that goes on here. He also is far from a boring fighter. He is relentless on offense with decent skills and good enough pop, while his defensive liabilities will mean he will get hit plenty and make for exciting fights against higher competition. So here we are with a "powerpunching" (again, on paper) heavyweight that can appeal to Mexicans, Americans, and anyone who likes offensive firepower type fights.

Yet, what is he doing? When is he on TV? Why isn't he being matched as publicly as possible against opponents with name recognition that he is sure to beat. He would start to gather a huge following in no time before being cashed in and out against say Wlad. I don't understand the lack of promotion he receives. Who is he with?

For as long as he will continue beating tomato cans, he will not be getting networks to buy his fights. It's as simple as that. It's not that his promoters cannot sell him, they are not willing to sell him. I am pretty sure that he could get fights with a lot of top 20 fighters that would generate at least SOME kind of interest. Look at Povetkin, he got his 15th fight on HBO because he beat Donald and Byrd prior. I'll bet that if he gets a couple of opponents with somewhat recognizable name, he'll sell like hotcakes.

[Hitman932]

this game is about investments these days, arreolas people are looking for a payoff and they know his limitations as good as anyone. as far as american heavyweight prospects go he is a little ahead of the rest.

his handlers know if he gets beat by someone he is supposed to beat their investment is in the toilet cause there are just too many good eastern europeans around now for half assed american fighters to be landing title shots.

whereas if he keeps whipping sorry asses and throws one win against an ex-conternder who is washed up he may scratch out a title shot and 500-750g, a la matt skelton

[raabd]

At one point several months ago ring magazine had Arreola as a top ten heavyweight.

[USCowboyHC]

Yea I think the promoters are doing the right thing. Bring him up slowly have him continue to build up his record and soon he will get big time fights.

[raysan]

If they rush him to TV, with his record and ko ratio, he would probably have a title fight the day after because the heavyweights are so weak. Now, while that may be the goal of most promoters, maybe his really feel he has the potential to do more than just cash in on a pay day and are bringing him along slowly. I think they are doing the right thing with him because he will always sell as long as he dont get beat.