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by T.K. Stewart - Although the number seems much higher, only 14 different men have worn the WBC heavyweight title belt over the course of the past quarter century.
Cris Arreola wants very much to become number 15.
The 28-year-old Riverside, California resident will get his “Rocky Balboa-like” shot at Vitali Klitschko's heavyweight title tomorrow night at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Change the names and the storyline a little and this fight has elements of the fictional Apollo Creed vs. Rocky Balboa match-up.
There's the wealthy, skilled and well-known Klitschko, who like Creed, needed an opponent to look good against. Then there's the betting underdog and hometown favorite-son in Arreola. Similar to Balboa, he's fighting for pride and for his shot against a champ in a fight that most observers feel he has no chance of winning.
But there are a few major differences in this real world clash. Cris Arreola is undefeated at 27-0, 24 KOs and he is rated as the #1 WBC contender. He'll become the first fighter of Mexican descent to ever challenge for a heavyweight title. He's not a clubfighter, either. And some are even of the notion that if he lands a big punch on the 38-year-old chin of the towering Klitschko, that he might be able to yell out to his good friend and trainer Henry Ramirez; “Yo! Henry! We did it!”
But the most likely outcome, at least according to the oddsmakers, is that Klitschko's greater experience and more refined boxing skills will show Arreola the exit sign before the eighth round. The bet is that Arreola isn't at all prepared for what Vitali brings to the table. They say Klitschko is the most experienced heavyweight in the world. They also point to the fact that while Klitschko is always in shape and never far from his fighting weight - Arreola gains 30 to 50 pounds in between fights and is enslaved by beer and Mexican food. [details]
Cris Arreola wants very much to become number 15.
The 28-year-old Riverside, California resident will get his “Rocky Balboa-like” shot at Vitali Klitschko's heavyweight title tomorrow night at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Change the names and the storyline a little and this fight has elements of the fictional Apollo Creed vs. Rocky Balboa match-up.
There's the wealthy, skilled and well-known Klitschko, who like Creed, needed an opponent to look good against. Then there's the betting underdog and hometown favorite-son in Arreola. Similar to Balboa, he's fighting for pride and for his shot against a champ in a fight that most observers feel he has no chance of winning.
But there are a few major differences in this real world clash. Cris Arreola is undefeated at 27-0, 24 KOs and he is rated as the #1 WBC contender. He'll become the first fighter of Mexican descent to ever challenge for a heavyweight title. He's not a clubfighter, either. And some are even of the notion that if he lands a big punch on the 38-year-old chin of the towering Klitschko, that he might be able to yell out to his good friend and trainer Henry Ramirez; “Yo! Henry! We did it!”
But the most likely outcome, at least according to the oddsmakers, is that Klitschko's greater experience and more refined boxing skills will show Arreola the exit sign before the eighth round. The bet is that Arreola isn't at all prepared for what Vitali brings to the table. They say Klitschko is the most experienced heavyweight in the world. They also point to the fact that while Klitschko is always in shape and never far from his fighting weight - Arreola gains 30 to 50 pounds in between fights and is enslaved by beer and Mexican food. [details]
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