411 Boxing Roundtable Preview: Klitschko vs. Arreola

Posted by Matt Knowles on 09.25.2009

With one of the most highly anticipated heavyweight title fights in recent years set to go this Saturday night at the Staples Center, we put together another roundtable panel as the 411 Boxing staff breaks down Vitali Klitschko vs. Chris Arreola.


Photos by Jan Sanders / Goossen Tutor

Alright welcome back to another roundtable discussion here on 411mania.com as our boxing staff breaks down Saturday night's WBC heavyweight title fight between Vitali Klitschko and Chris Arreola.

Joining us on our panel this week are Patrick Mullin, Ramon Aranda, Ryan Bates and Ali Shakoor. Hosting the roundtable this week is none other than Matt Knowles. Now let's get to it!

1.This will be Chris Arreola's very 1st main event, and it's a championship bout being held at the 20,000+ seat Staples Center in LA. This being said, how will "the moment" affect his performance?

Patrick Mullin - I definitely think the nerves will rattle Arreola. He has one of the biggest mouths in the heavyweight division and has constantly ran it towards Vitali. Now he has to back up all his talk in front of the biggest crowd he'll have ever seen, in his backyard no less. He'll be rattled.

Ramon - I have a feeling that it will over stimulate him. Arreola has never been in this position before and sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the moment. We already knows he plans on going right after Vitali but with thousands of screaming fans and a chance at history on the line to become the first heavyweight titlist of Mexican decent, my gut feeling is that he'll try to hard and get sloppy.

Ryan the Rhino -Well, he might get caught up in the moment. Everyone's waiting for that day when their name shows up in the big letters on the fight poster, and has all the cameras on them. But it could be worse - at least he's the hometown guy. I love Chris Arreola, I think he's a good guy and a guy I enjoy watching as a heavyweight myself, but I just don't see him having a huge chance. I don't think the main event "moment" will affect that too much one way or another.

Joe Roche - Arreola is nothing if not a warrior, and I think that the huge moment, and the massive crowd, most of whom will be Mexican flag waving Arreola fans will take a little bit of the sting off Klitschko's brutal jab. While the crowd may not be enough to get Arreola the win, it may be enough to get him through some of the more difficult rounds because they will be loud and they will be cheering almost exclusively for the challenger.

Ali Shakoor -He'll have some jitters for sure. It's always difficult fighting in your hometown(pressure, tickets, friends/family). It will affect his performance early on until after a round or so, when he realizes it's just another fight...though against the best heavyweight in the world.


2. On the flip-side, this will be Vitali Klitschko's 10th appearance in a world title affair, and his 3rd headline bout at the Staples Center. How much of a factor will his main event experience be?

Ryan the Rhino -This is just another day at the office for Dr. Klitschko, so this can only help him. But again, you can have this fight at Arreola's parents' house, and I still see a pretty inevitable outcome.

Ali Shakoor -He'll be calm and cool. This is a major advantage for Vitali.

Joe Roche - The only way that Vitali's experience helps him is that he's fought better opposition, and he's gone deeper in fights. Arreola hasn't gone past the 8th round, and he's only even gotten to the 8th once. Vitali has a lot more title fight experience so he'll be better prepared to pace himself if he doesn't think he can close the show early.

Patrick Mullin - Vitali has fought in enemy territory, but I don't think he'll have seen as hostile an environment as he will in this bout. However his wealth of experience and mental strength lead me to believe that he won't be shaken. He's too seasoned at this stage of his career to allow crowds to affect his performance.

Ramon - Vitali is a cool customer and that includes his first title shot against Lennox Lewis in that very same arena. He remained composed and took it right to Lennox with pin point accurate punches. I don't think this particular fight will affect his performance in any way. He's been here before and this won't even be the biggest fight of his career. Expect Klitschko to look the same way he does for every single fight.


3. Each fighter has an impressive knockout ratio of over 88%. Point blank: who hits harder?

Joe Roche - I think both guys hit hard – I just think Arreola hits harder. Vitali isn't really the quick knockout artist but more the type of guy who wears his opponent out with punishing jabs until they simply can't continue. Arreola has more one punch pop so I'd say that he has the stronger shot, although Vitali can sustain it longer.

Ryan the Rhino -I didn't know how to answer this question, so I thought to myself, if I were thrust in to this fight right now as a last minute substitute, who would I rather see on the other side of the ring? I'd rather see Arreola. He hits hard, but Klitschko hits hard and accurately. I think that's a bigger factor than just "hard." Hell, I hit hard too. Not nearly as hard as those two... yet.

Ali Shakoor -Hard to say, but I'll go with Vitali since he's hurt and stopped far superior competition.

Patrick Mullin - I have to give the edge here to Arreola. Vitali hitting you is like a blunt object being rammed into you which will hurt you but not completely turn your lights out. Arreola has that flash KO kind of power where he can hit you clean with a shot and fold you up like an accordion.

Ramon - I'm gonna say that Klitschko is naturally the bigger puncher. That being said, Arreola puts his whole body into his punches so he appears to hit harder. Klitschko many times throws off his heels and doesn't seem to have a ton of leverage but he still takes you out. If he put his entire body into his punches, it'd be even worse for his opponents.


4. Arreola is a very pro-active, attack-oriented fighter, while Klitschko is generally a laid-back counter-puncher with huge physical advantages. Who do you believe will win the exchanges at center ring?

Ramon - If they're on the outside, it'll be Klitschko all night long. His jab is a sledgehammer and his right hand hits like two or three of them. Arreola can win the exchanges if they get on the inside where he'll have the shorter arms and more leverage. To me, this is the only way Arreola can win the fight - if he keeps it on the inside. If Klitschko keeps him at a distance, it's goodnight Irene for Cristobal.

Joe Roche - This is the big question isn't it? If Arreola can get inside he can win this fight, but if Vitali keeps him at arm's length there is nothing that he can do. I do think that the only way you can beat Vitali is to apply pressure, and luckily Arreola has shown that he is willing to take some shots to get inside, which may help him in this fight. However, while Arreola may have flashes where he gets inside, for the most part this fight will be Klitschko using that massive jab to back Arreola up for the majority of rounds.

Patrick Mullin - My answer here will sound silly, but just go with it. Vitali will win those exchanges simply because there won't be any. He's going to control Arreola with the jab and just pick him off with right hands and left hooks at will while Arreola will have a hard time landing 1 out of every 10 punches he throws, or wants to throw. I think he'll get discouraged and may just try to survive in there while not offering much. The less they exchange the better it is for Vitali, and because I don't see there being any of these exchanges you'd have to call Vitali the winner.

Ali Shakoor -Arreola will win some exchanges early with faster hands. But once he fails to stop Vitali and gets tired, he'll start eating a lot of straight and overhand rights late in the fight.

Ryan the Rhino -I have a bad feeling Arreola is going to give Klitschko exactly what he wants: come in swinging, and Klitschko will counter with that hammering jab and the occasional straight right all night. Unless Arreola's head movement has gotten substantially better, and his in-game is good (which to be fair, Arreola does very well with inside fighting), it's Klitschko's fight.


5. Who is going home with the WBC heavyweight title, and why?

Joe Roche -This will seemingly go against what I just said but I think Arreola has a very good chance to win this fight. You can't discount the fact that Vitali has been in the ring only twice in the last four years – that's a long lay off for any fighter, and for a heavyweight that's a lifetime. I do think that Klitschko is going to retain his belt in this fight but it won't be as easy as some would have you believe, and I expect Arreola to make some noise until about the 9th or 10th round when he's finally stopped by those punishing jabs.

Ali Shakoor -Vitali. He's simply the best heavyweight in the world. He's a good athlete, very experienced--and importantly here--has an excellent chin. If Arreola is in good shape he'll lose a unanimous decision. If he's fat, he'll get stopped in the 10th or 11th round.

Patrick Mullin - Vitali Klitschko because he's a great fighter, and Arreola is an unproven fighter with a penchant for coming in out of shape. No, I take that back. Arreola usually is in shape, he's round. Arreola's only victories have been against unproven prospects and a gatekeeper who's only significant win was against Michael Grant almost ten years ago. Vitali is way too technically sound, hits too hard, and can take too good of a punch to even sweat against Arreola.

Ryan the Rhino -I really wish I could say Chris Arreola, and I will be supporting Arreola whole-heartedly. He's one of my favorite fighters to watch. I enjoyed his fight against Jameel McCline just as much as the Williams/Wright main event. And with that being said, I pick Klitschko to win in 9. Sorry Chris. We're still homies, right? Let's go get that upset! I WANT to be wrong this time!

Ramon - Vitali Klitschko. Sure he's a little older now but his ranginess, powerful punches and awkward style which does wonders for his defense, he's just super tough to beat. Only Lennox Lewis gave him an even fight and it was one that Vitali was WINNING. Arreola is no Lewis but as they say, he has a puncher's chance. Will it be enough? I say no. Klitschko wins by 5th round KO.

And now it's your turn to chime in...Klitschko or Arreola? Who wins?

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