Chris Arreola - Contender or Not?

[Spicoli]

I really try to keep an open mind.Arreola point blank strikes me as a fighter living in the 'now'...fight to fight for the moment and honestly just wants to knock heads.I really do not see him making adjustment's or showing a working effort to Improve over all,be it with condition or defense etc.Fight changing power but straight down the middle he is severly hitable.

What you see is what you get,he will be exciting while he is going through the rise but honestly Imo...when he runs into someone with a stiff jab and combanation punching,he'll get KO'd early.It is a major statement ,and not in a great way,that HBO is labeling him the 'best american heavyweight prospect'

[Rantcatrat]

Arreola will beat a lot of heavyweights out there. He easily beat Travis Walker, Israel Garcia, and Chazz Witherspoon (combined record of 70-2). He looks sloppy, but he deserves credit.

It won't be combination punching that beats Arreola; it will be swiftness and a good jab. A boxer that can go for twelve rounds and who will make Arreola work to win rounds.

[Spicoli]

Arreola will beat a lot of heavyweights out there. He easily beat Travis Walker, Israel Garcia, and Chazz Witherspoon (combined record of 70-2). He looks sloppy, but he deserves credit.

It won't be combination punching that beats Arreola; it will be swiftness and a good jab. A boxer that can go for twelve rounds and who will make Arreola work to win rounds.

All the credit in the world but he was catching combos quite a bit.Getting tagged like he was I just can not see him making it through twelve rounds if he is forced to back up.A hard jab,as walker was switching with,from head to body and then following up will do a number on him if he does not start getting serious imo.

[Mark TKO]

Not convinced though with state of heavies you have to say he is a fringe player


As said the klitschkos would destroy him as would Haye

Lets put him in with Audley next

[luvfightgame]

I think he's shown he has the tools to be a player. His tactic of staying on the ropes and letting Walker unload on him and tasting his power will not work against either Klitschko and probably not many other strong punching heavies.

Overall, he's in the mix and he needs to be taken seriously. I don't think he's ready for a Klitschko. But I don't think David Haye has done enough to be a heavy favorite against Chris. Actually it would be a very interesting matchup to see Haye fight Arreola as an eliminator preceeding a Klitschko fight.

For the record, I think Arreola has a better chance against Wlad than Haye. I haven't seen Haye eat a solid heavyweight punch yet.

[El Kabong]

Cris Arreola = Sam Peter....he has the power and the chin to beat a lot of folks the only problem is that the fat bastard WON'T improve his defense, he WON'T train properly, and he WON'T improve his skills as a boxer....he'll lean on the crutch that is his power and once he meets a solid boxer with good defense and stamina he's toast...he's going to look very very bad very soon.

I'd like to see him fight one or more of the following: Sam Peter, Andrew Golota, Jameel McCline, Tony Thompson, Ray Austin, Lamon Brewster, John Ruiz, Cedric Boswell, Dominick Guinn, Fres Oquendo, Juan Carlos Gomez.

[TitoFan]

I think Arreola has the necessary tools (power, decent boxing skills, chin, attitude)... but he definitely needs to dedicate himself a little more in training. That being said, I enjoy his fights more than most other heavyweights today. So I'm rooting for him to go far in a division that sorely needs excitement.

[El Kabong]

Boxing skill?!?!! Arreola looks like one of those guys Wlad will pummel into submission...he doesn't use his feet, he doesn't counter, he just throws like a wild banshee and whatever lands he lands with decent power but when he's getting repeatedly nailed with punches he'll clam up and turn into another obese punching bag like the rest of the division everyone hates so much.

[awdleyfuturehalloffamer]

Slower than an ox and as sloppy as madonna.

[Hulk]

I say put him in there with James Toney. Seriously. I think Toney stops him.

Fat fight!!!

[The Fightfan]

I don't see him as a contender until he fight's someone with expierence.Yes he beat the up and comers but now it's time to get veterans in there. People who already have been tested against the best of the division. Or make a big fight right off the bat. Arreola vs Haye plain and simple.

[Rantcatrat]

Boxing skill?!?!! Arreola looks like one of those guys Wlad will pummel into submission...he doesn't use his feet, he doesn't counter, he just throws like a wild banshee and whatever lands he lands with decent power but when he's getting repeatedly nailed with punches he'll clam up and turn into another obese punching bag like the rest of the division everyone hates so much.

Say what you want, but he is as entertaining as any heavy of the moment. He looks like the a mexican mafia enforcer crossed with freddy kruger. His post fight interviews are priceless. I loved when he was like "I just need to get some Menudo." (tripe soup).

I want to see him in with a lower tiered top ten fighter.

[Mar]

....he has the potential.

[RozzySean]

Cris Arreola = Sam Peter....he has the power and the chin to beat a lot of folks the only problem is that the fat bastard WON'T improve his defense, he WON'T train properly, and he WON'T improve his skills as a boxer....he'll lean on the crutch that is his power and once he meets a solid boxer with good defense and stamina he's toast...he's going to look very very bad very soon.

I'd like to see him fight one or more of the following: Sam Peter, Andrew Golota, Jameel McCline, Tony Thompson, Ray Austin, Lamon Brewster, John Ruiz, Cedric Boswell, Dominick Guinn, Fres Oquendo, Juan Carlos Gomez.

He's got more skill than Peter and he throws much better combos. He doesn't have the one punch power of Peter, but he has more volume, he moves better, and he he's taller.

You are right, for sure, he tends to come into fights out a shape. He was in good shape for the Witherspoon fight and he looked better in that fight. He's got some potential, but next year will be too early to fight either Klit. I think he could give Haye some problems, but it's hard to tell for sure. Haye has yet to face real HW. The Barrett win meant nothing to me.

A guy like Ray Ausin or Guinn would be a good step up for him, most of your list, really. I would favor him against most of those guys. Tony Thompson would be a tough matchup for him. I agree with the poster who said that mover with a jab will give him the most problems.

[JonnyFolds]

I say CONTENDER.

The good
He's got POWER, good chin, solid (allbeit BIG) body, decent stamina from what we've seen. Throws and doesn't stop until you say uncle. Has good angles on his punches

The Bad
He is fat. he plods a bit much/not very lite on his feet. Doesn't really look for good spots to throw punches, a little bit too much caution to the wind. No real game plan it seems in his fights.

The Ugly
Fatty Fatty Fatty. Not a pleasant looking individual either... Anybody else look at that mug!?


And I think Peter would be an excellent next match for him. These guys could bang it out and maybe that would get Peter motivated to learn something new to take to the Brothers of Klit.