Klitschko vs. Arreola: The Prediction and the Outcome

KlitschkoBy Ted Sares – The Prediction: The Nightmare’s best opportunity will be in the first three rounds when he will try to mug the giant Ukrainian in the same manner Andy Ganigan mugged Sean O’Grady many years ago. Perhaps a more recent example might be Lennox Lewis’s second round ambush of Razor Ruddock in 1992. In this attempted assault, look for Arreola to use hooks, uppercuts and overhand lefts and rights to do most of his damage. And in this regard, his brawling offense is more varied than Klitchko’s.

But if Klitschko can lean back, maintain his balance and withstand the explosive assault, he will move the fight into the 4rth stanza where Arreola could well begin to run out of gas. Taking down a monster like Vitali expends a lot of energy and that’s something Cristobal may lack going into the late rounds. My guess is that he will start to wane in the fifth or sixth and be ripe for the taking around the eighth.. The end could come by a mercy stoppage as Arreola does not appear to be the type to quit between rounds..

The Outcome

Klitschko’s record coming in was 37-2 with 36 wins coming by way of knockout. Arreola’s record was unblemished after 27 outings with 24 knockouts to his credit. But this was the only similarity as the giant Ukrainian simply has too much size, experience, power, movement (yes movement), and all-around ring savvy for the game Arreola who simply could not close the distance on his bigger opponent.

Dr. Ironfist took the measure of the Mexican American heavyweight in every category at the STAPLES Center in L.A. tonight as the fight was mercifully stopped at the end of 10 with Arreola’s bloody face looking like it had gone through a grinder. Klitschko fought at a very controlled distance throughout and then perpetrated a beat down in the ninth stanza which set up the ending.

Vitali fought an almost perfect fight. He used his punishing jab, solid body work, and an assortment of straight rights and sneaky hooks. In so doing, he looked even better than he did against Peter and Gomez.

At age 38, could it be possible that he is getting even better?