by James Slater: Both are unbeaten and good looking heavyweight prospects, with just one negative – neither of them has yet taken what could really be called a risky fight. Chris Arreola, 23-0(21) and Chazz Witherspoon, 23-0(15) are the two heavyweights in question, and according to a news flash on FightNews.com, the single negative will be done away with on June 21st, as the two men are set to fight..
HBO will televise, and the battle of the unbeaten heavyweight prospects will take place at the theatre in the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York. This news, if it is indeed one hundred percent true, is great news. Both heavyweights have been showing a lot of promise as of late – the aggressive and rugged Arreola in particular – and a showdown between the two would no doubt tell us more about both guys and their chances of making it all the way to the heavyweight championship.
Arreola, is a year the older man at age 27, and “The Nightmare” is the slightly heavier man at around 240 pounds to 225 for Witherspoon. Apart from this, however, both guys are incredibly similarly matched. Both men have had exactly the same amount of pro fights (with Arreola scoring more stoppages than Witherspoon), both fighters stand at the same height at 6’4″ and both heavyweights are orthodox in stance. In short, this is as close to a 50/50 affair as you could find.
Though they have had the same amount of fights, Arreola has been a pro for slightly longer – having turned pro in 2003, compared to 2004 for Witherspoon. The 27 year old has arguably faced the slightly better quality of opposition, too. For without being seriously tested, Arreola has seen off recognisable name fighters such as Cliff Couser, the previously undefeated Damian Wills and the Kevin Rooney-trained and then just once beaten Thomas Hayes. Look at ” The Gentleman’s” record, and, by comparison, there are no immediately recognisable names at all.
This is not to suggest that Arreola is the better fighter – we will only find that out when the two meet in the middle of the ring. But Arreola, it seems, has been matched a little tougher and with more confidence than Witherspoon up until this point. Let’s hope a fight between these two promising fighters does indeed come off. For both guys, it’s about time.