By James Slater: Many fans are extremely disappointed by the fact that Ring Magazine, IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko’s next defence will come against former cruiserweight ruler Jean Marc Mormeck, but guess what? So is “Dr. Steel Hammer.”
Klitschko, a smart guy, is well aware of the flak his latest fight is getting, but it wasn’t his choice. At least this is the word according to his Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward. Steward spoke with Ringtv.com recently, and he revealed how popular Mexican/American contender Chris Arreola was Wladimir’s undisputed first choice for his next challenger. Wanting to “re-connect with America,” according to Emanuel (Wladimir has not fought in the U.S since his dull Feb. 2008 points win over Sultan Ibragimov; the champ‘s last six bouts taking place in Germany), Klitschko now hopes to face Arreola next year. In fact, Wladimir is “gung-ho” for the fight.
Steward explained to Ringtv.com how he approached Arreola’s trainer Henry Ramirez, but that he told him Arreola does not want the big fight until 2012 (Arreola faces Alonzo Butler in Mexico on Nov. 5th in his next bout), therefore the “stay busy” fight with Mormeck was signed instead.
“This is a stay busy fight in December, but the real goal is to get Arreola probably in the first part of next year,” Steward said. “The target is Arreola. Wladimir is gung-ho for it. In fact, he wanted it for his next fight, but they said they didn’t want it. We’ve got to make sure we don’t lose focus with Mormeck. He definitely wants to re-connect with America and he couldn’t do it with this fight here.”
So, as a “stay busy” affair, the Mormeck fight, though nothing but a mismatch, is at least understandable. Arreola, wanting to be the very best he can be, is wise to wait until next year, when of course, Wladimir will be a year older.
Arreola lost in a game challenge of WBC king Vitali Klitschko two years ago, but Steward feels it will be a different type of fight when “The Nightmare” gets in there with Wladimir.
“Vitali is a different type of fighter, bigger than Wladimir,” Steward explained. “Arreola throws a lot of punches and he’s the only guy that I think can crowd Wladimir and bring out the best in him. At his height, he’s just big enough and strong mentally to crowd Wladimir and make Wladimir come out of his comfort zone to fight him.”
Agreed. Ask yourself, who out there figures to have a better shot against Wladimir than Arreola? Beaten only by Vitali and, on points by Tomasz Adamek (when Arreola was, by his own admission, out of shape), Arreola has a good chin, great stamina, a high punch output and a naturally aggressive style. Against the rock-chinned “Dr. Iron Fist” this was not enough, but against the less rock-like Wladimir, a fighter more cautious by nature, maybe Arreola would be able to bull his way in and go to work.
Steward says the plan is to take this fight in a big stadium, maybe New York’s Madison Square Garden. As long as the newly rededicated Arreola continues his winning ways, this fight might, just might, give us a heavyweight battle to get excited about in 2012!