By James Slater: According to various boxing web sites, exciting Mexican/American heavyweight contender Chris Arreola will fight durable fringe contender Alonzo Butler at a venue to be determined in Mexico on November 5th. According to Boxrec.com the fight will be scheduled for ten rounds.
This fight could be a decent test for 30-year-old Arreola, seeing as how “Big Zo,” as 31-year-old Butler is known, has never been stopped in over 30 pro fights.
Arreola, 33-2(28) has had a busy year already, with four fights done and dusted so far in 2011. With his re-found dedication towards training and coming in at a lower weight, “The Nightmare” has enjoyed fighting more than at any other time. Beaten only by Vitali Klitschko and Tomasz Adamek, Arreola has many fans believing he still has it in him to become a world champion.
Butler, 28-2-1(21) was once a highly touted fighter himself. Back in 2007, the approx 250-pounder was beating the usual suspects and was on the verge of a big fight. A June 2008 points loss to Friday Ahunanya (who has also been in with Arreola) halted Butler’s progress and, in his last fight, against Travis Walker (also an Arreola victim) back in May, Butler was again out-pointed (this despite coming in at a near career-low 231-pounds). A dangerous fighter who can punch, Butler will likely have a “nothing to lose” attitude when entering the ring to rumble with Arreola.
The November fight will mark a distinct step up in class for Butler, however, and he will enter the ring as a considerable underdog. Arreola has more than enough to win his fifth fight of the year, but he will make a statement if he can become the first man to KO Butler.
The fans in Mexico, who will getting a first “live” look at Arreola, should get an exciting fight. Arreola is rarely in a dull fight, and Butler, if he wants to win, will come out slinging bombs. Both men have a great chin and both have gone the ten-round distance a number of times. I think we could be in store for a pretty grueling fight.
I see Arreola winning the decision, but he may have to overcome a very stubborn, determined opponent to get the victory. The fight-weights of both men may well have a lot to do with their respective performances in the ring. Will Arreola come in below 230 for this one?