Boxing Preview: Tomasz Adamek vs. Chris Arreola

Former WBC light heavyweight and IBF cruiser champ Tomasz Adamek continues his heavyweight excursion tonight at the Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario, CA, where he’ll meet local hero Chris Arreola in defense of the IBF International crown.

Adamek, 40-1 (27), will have the edge in experience this evening as the native Pole has previously fought in seven major world title bouts, losing only once, to top light heavy Chad Dawson, three years ago.

The 33 year old Jersey City, NJ resident has displayed superb boxing ability in defeating such world class opponents as Steve Cunningham, O’Neill Bell, Paul Briggs and Jonathon Banks but has faced only a spent Andrew Golota and light hitting Jason Estrada at heavyweight.

And that is where the sheer size and strength advantage of Arreola, 28-1 (25), could come into play.

The 29 year old Ontario man battered his way up the heavyweight ranks in the states, dispatching certainly respectable but less than world class rivals on the way to his only true top level clash, a tenth round stoppage loss against boxing’s biggest puncher and the heavyweight division’s most difficult opponent, WBC champ Vitali Klitschko.

Against Klitschko, Arreola proved he has the chin to take anything Adamek can dish out for 12 rounds and the punching power of the ex-NABF titlist is beyond question, as it’s been five years since a losing opponent has finished on his feet against Big Chris.

If Arreola can find the target against Adamek as often as Estrada did, the bout won’t likely last the distance but Adamek will likely be much more careful in this bout.

Look for Arreola to go after Adamek from the first bell but if he can’t control the bout and things go in to the later rounds, as Adamek is no doubt hoping, the former light heavy and cruiserweight champion will be the more active fighter and likely win a points verdict.

The undercard features a good clash at light middleweight as Interim WBO beltholder Alfredo Angulo, 17-1 (14), tangles with former title challenger Joel Julio, 35-3 (31), over 12 rounds.

Neither Angulo or Julio have won when they faced top flight competition and this should be an entertaining scrap as both come to fight and can bang.

Angulo will likely have the strength advantage over former light welter Julio but this one really comes down to who can take the punches and who can’t.

It probably won’t go the distance and is a definite candidate for a Fight of the Year type war.