The Sweet Science 09.29.09: Skill Beats Will

Posted by Igor Frank on 09.29.2009

Saturday night, in front of 14,566 fans, starving for big heavyweight action fight, Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko dominated and stopped a very determined but overmatched, previously undefeated Cristobal Arreola.


Photos by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com

Two things were proven once again; one is that a good big man always beats a good little man (it is hard to imagine how anybody could call Arreola a little man, but that is exactly what he was in comparison to a giant Ukrainian) and two, is when it comes to sweet science skill almost always beats will.

Klitschko used his 3.5 inch height and 3 inch reach advantage to the fullest as he used the center of the ring and punished Arreola with a variety of hard punches while at the same time moving side to side and avoiding return fire. At times it looked like there was a man in the ring beating up a boy. With a PHD in sports science Klitschko should get an honorary degree in sweet science for his carefully crafted fight plan and execution of it against Arreola. "Whatever I did he would adapt to it," Arreola said. "He used his experience to beat me up." Surprised that his left jab was not landing regularly the champion adapted and started throwing something in between a jab and a hook; it looked like a jab, but then it wound around fast and hit Chris on the side of the head moving him into a position for the straight right hand. Despite being a bigger and stronger man Klitschko employed a hit and move fight plan; he fired two or three punches and moved to the side preventing Arreola from unloading his heavy artillery.

It was all Klitschko in the first three rounds as hard charging Mexican- American challenger continued to put on a lot of pressure while eating some heavy leather but not being able to get to the champion. Thirty eight year old Klitschko moved effortlessly around the ring giving almost no opportunities to his adversary. In the fourth Arreola was able to close the distance a bit and land a few menacing power punches inside. Even though it was not enough to win the round it looked like the tide of the fight might turn. It was just an illusion as Klitschko adapted yet again, changed up his movement and continued to unload heavy bombs on bewildered Arreola adding thudding body blows that were landing regularly on a soft belly of his opponent.

In a spirit of a true Mexican champion Arreola disregarded punishment that was coming his way and continued to press forward. To his credit Chris made the champion throw more punches than he wanted to and made him move more than he wanted to. The plan was to make the 38 year old champion fight a fast pace battle and to see if he would unravel in the later rounds. It did not work. Aside from showing incredible boxing skills and knowledge, Klitschko displayed a level of fitness worthy of young champion, looking just as sharp in the tenth stanza as he did in the first. In fact it was Arreola who started to look unraveled in the later rounds; his face was all busted up, he was bleeding from both nostrils and his punches were loosing steam. Sensing they were in a loosing battle, in between rounds seven and eight, Arreola's chief trainer Henry Ramirez asked his charge to take some chances. Chris upped the pressure and was able to land some meaningful blows thus winning a round on two of the judge's scorecards, though I think it might have been a consolation round. But that was his last hurrah in the fight. In rounds nine and ten Klitschko found another gear and resumed punishing his foe with hard accurate punches. Despite getting severely brutalized, Arreola, who left his heart and soul in the ring, kept trying and kept moving forward. Against all odds Arreola wanted to continue, but his chief corner and a close friend Henry Ramirez decided to protect his fighter and stop the massacre after round ten. "He was taking too much punishment, said Ramirez: "He wasn't able to mount any kind of attack." It was a timely stoppage and hopefully Arreola will get to fight another day.

So disappointed and heart broken was young challenger that he wept uncontrollably in the ring. "It hurts to loose. I worked my (butt) off," said Arreola, 28. "I wanted to go the full 12 rounds…I wanted to be champion. I will be back."

With a tenth round TKO victory Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC belt and improved his record to 38 wins, 37 by knockout and two losses (both due to injuries). Graceful sportsman, he showed a lot of respect to his opponent admitting that he had to work extra hard for this victory. "It's never easy," said Vitali: "I know I was hurting him a lot. He surprised me. He has a great, great chin. He will be champion."

Klitschko completely dominated the fight; he landed almost as many punches as Chris has thrown and he connected 51% percent of his power punches. It was the best performance by Vitali Klitschko that I have ever seen, especially considering the opponent who left it all in the ring. On this particular night, I can't think of any heavyweight in any era that would give trouble to a giant Ukrainian champion. And that might be precisely his problem and why American public will not completely embrace him. Every great champion is defined by his battles where he had to go beyond his skills and rise above his human limitations, like Ali and Frazier or Barrera and Morales.

Vitali might never get that opponent to challenge that spirit within him, unless he fights his own brother. Wouldn't that be something, 'Dr. Ironfist' against 'Dr. Steelhammer' for the unified heavyweight championship of the world?