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When Cristobal Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs) challenges heavyweight titleholder Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KO) on Saturday night (10 ET, HBO) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, he'll be looking to make more history than just winning one of the belts.
Arreola, who is from Riverside, Calif., is Mexican-American and quite aware of the storied history of Mexicans in boxing. But for all the star fighters the country has produced, there has never been a heavyweight champion from Mexico -- or even one of Mexican descent.
Arreola aims to become the first.
"I'm going to make him a pop-culture question," Arreola said. "'Who did Cris Arreola beat to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion of the world?' I'm honored by this, and it's not just the opportunity. It's history. It's hard for me to even describe."
Henry Ramirez, who trains the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Arreola, added, "Cristobal is ready to fight. He's ready to make history."
Six past Mexican greats weighed in through translators and via e-mail on Arreola's chances to pull off the upset:
• Julio Cesar Chavez: "It is always good that a fellow countryman tries to accomplish some feat in boxing. If Arreola defeats Klitschko, he will go down in history as one of the big surprises."
• Pipino Cuevas: "It is a great opportunity and it should be taken advantage of. I hope Arreola wins. He has a hard punch, and he cannot be ruled out. But the current champion, Klitschko, has more power in his fists than any other fighter. It is a very tough fight for Arreola, but if he wins, all the success will be for him."
• Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez: "We will be paying a lot of attention to what Arreola does against Klitschko. I find it very difficult for Cris to win this bout. However, we should not forget he is an undefeated fighter and he has a hard punch."
• Erik Morales: "It is a real event [for] Mexican boxing. Moreover, if Cristobal wins the title, it will be the cherry on top of the cake in the history of Mexican boxing, as we have had great fighters in almost all the weight divisions, but in this one -- which is the most difficult division in boxing -- we had never had a great fighter."
• Ruben Olivares: "The fact that boxers like Arreola have the opportunity to fight for the title is very good, so that we know if he is capable of winning it or not. If Arreola wins, that will have a great impact on boxing, which is what we are waiting for. Arreola must show he has the balls, just like a real Mexican fighter does."
• Carlos Zarate: "It seems to be a difficult bout for Arreola, but taking his record into account, he has probabilities to win, as Klitschko has already fought a lot. If Arreola wins, it will be something shocking. Imagine! The first Mexican to win a heavyweight world title. He could become an idol in Mexico."
Arreola, who is from Riverside, Calif., is Mexican-American and quite aware of the storied history of Mexicans in boxing. But for all the star fighters the country has produced, there has never been a heavyweight champion from Mexico -- or even one of Mexican descent.
Arreola aims to become the first.
"I'm going to make him a pop-culture question," Arreola said. "'Who did Cris Arreola beat to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion of the world?' I'm honored by this, and it's not just the opportunity. It's history. It's hard for me to even describe."
Henry Ramirez, who trains the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Arreola, added, "Cristobal is ready to fight. He's ready to make history."
Six past Mexican greats weighed in through translators and via e-mail on Arreola's chances to pull off the upset:
• Julio Cesar Chavez: "It is always good that a fellow countryman tries to accomplish some feat in boxing. If Arreola defeats Klitschko, he will go down in history as one of the big surprises."
• Pipino Cuevas: "It is a great opportunity and it should be taken advantage of. I hope Arreola wins. He has a hard punch, and he cannot be ruled out. But the current champion, Klitschko, has more power in his fists than any other fighter. It is a very tough fight for Arreola, but if he wins, all the success will be for him."
• Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez: "We will be paying a lot of attention to what Arreola does against Klitschko. I find it very difficult for Cris to win this bout. However, we should not forget he is an undefeated fighter and he has a hard punch."
• Erik Morales: "It is a real event [for] Mexican boxing. Moreover, if Cristobal wins the title, it will be the cherry on top of the cake in the history of Mexican boxing, as we have had great fighters in almost all the weight divisions, but in this one -- which is the most difficult division in boxing -- we had never had a great fighter."
• Ruben Olivares: "The fact that boxers like Arreola have the opportunity to fight for the title is very good, so that we know if he is capable of winning it or not. If Arreola wins, that will have a great impact on boxing, which is what we are waiting for. Arreola must show he has the balls, just like a real Mexican fighter does."
• Carlos Zarate: "It seems to be a difficult bout for Arreola, but taking his record into account, he has probabilities to win, as Klitschko has already fought a lot. If Arreola wins, it will be something shocking. Imagine! The first Mexican to win a heavyweight world title. He could become an idol in Mexico."
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