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by David P. Greisman - Chris Arreola doesn’t look like a heavyweight contender.
Normally when a sentence like that leads off a story, it is followed by an exploration of how an unlikely hero has been able to succeed despite his appearance, defying expectations and earning a chance to become a champion.
That isn’t what’s going to happen here. That’s because the reason Chris Arreola doesn’t look like a heavyweight contender is because he isn’t one.
The fact that Arreola has twice been able to fight for a world title doesn’t change this reality. Nor will it change even if Arreola goes on, as presumed, to challenge Deontay Wilder for his heavyweight belt later this year.
He’s nevertheless been able to get these shots, headline boxing broadcasts, make millions of dollars and remain viable nearly six years after his first failure for a variety of reasons.
There was his nationality. He was an American coming up in an era when Ukrainian great Wladimir Klitschko was beginning his dominant reign and when Wladimir’s older brother, Vitali, was getting ready to come out of retirement. The Klitschkos didn’t quite excite boxing fans in the United States, where the networks would soon spotlight them less and less.
There was his personality. He was a plainspoken, outgoing, out-of-shape, beer-drinking brawler. He made for a good interview. Arreola made HBO, which had long latched itself to a series of overhyped American heavyweights, want to spotlight him as the best next choice to stand in and crack away at Wladimir Klitschko’s perceived china chin. [Click Here To Read More]
Normally when a sentence like that leads off a story, it is followed by an exploration of how an unlikely hero has been able to succeed despite his appearance, defying expectations and earning a chance to become a champion.
That isn’t what’s going to happen here. That’s because the reason Chris Arreola doesn’t look like a heavyweight contender is because he isn’t one.
The fact that Arreola has twice been able to fight for a world title doesn’t change this reality. Nor will it change even if Arreola goes on, as presumed, to challenge Deontay Wilder for his heavyweight belt later this year.
He’s nevertheless been able to get these shots, headline boxing broadcasts, make millions of dollars and remain viable nearly six years after his first failure for a variety of reasons.
There was his nationality. He was an American coming up in an era when Ukrainian great Wladimir Klitschko was beginning his dominant reign and when Wladimir’s older brother, Vitali, was getting ready to come out of retirement. The Klitschkos didn’t quite excite boxing fans in the United States, where the networks would soon spotlight them less and less.
There was his personality. He was a plainspoken, outgoing, out-of-shape, beer-drinking brawler. He made for a good interview. Arreola made HBO, which had long latched itself to a series of overhyped American heavyweights, want to spotlight him as the best next choice to stand in and crack away at Wladimir Klitschko’s perceived china chin. [Click Here To Read More]
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