Published: 24 September, 2009, 13:43
Edited: 24 September, 2009, 10:47
US boxer Chris Arreola says its going to be a knockout fight between him and WBC heavyweight champion Vitaly Klitschko in their September 26 bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“It’s not gonna go far; plain and simple It’s gonna be a knockout fight and it’s gonna be an exciting fight. It’s something in the heavyweight division the fans have been waiting a long time for,” Chris Arreola said at a free open workout at Muscle Beach in Venice, California, fightnes.com reports.
Arreola, nicknamed “The Nightmare”, is undefeated in the ring. He holds number one in the WBC rankings and boasts a perfect 27-0 record with 24 knockouts.
“It’s going to be a changing of the guard. Very simple. The steel curtain is closed and now I own it. It’s gonna be my time,” the US boxer said. “I’m gonna bring emotion as far as determination to win the title for Mexicans and Mexican-Americans to celebrate, and determination to keep the title out here in the United States. That’s my main goal.”
And if Arreola defeats Klitschko, he’ll make history by becoming the first heavyweight champion of Mexican descent.
Arreola, who, according to some fans and specialists, has had weight problems, has trained hard to prepare for the historic bout, and even gave up drinking beer in the process.
Vitaly Klitschko has no problems of that kind, saying: “I’m always in shape. It’s never tough to get in shape. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs. I always, always maintain fitness.”
The elder of the Klitschko brothers, nicknamed “Doctor Iron Fist”, has an impressive 39-2 record with 37 knockouts.
The WBC champ is just happy to bring the bout to the Staples Center, where he held two of his most memorable fights – against Lenox Lewis in 2003 and Corrie Sanders in 2004, when the Ukrainian grabbed the WBC belt for the first time.
“This will be fight No. 3 at the Staples Center, and I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles. I have a lot of friends here and Los Angeles has a huge boxing community. It’s the Goossens, the home of a lot of fighters. To be at the Staples Center – for me, it’s the biggest arena and I’m ready to fight there,” the Ukrainian said.
Klitschko is aware that Arreola is a difficult rival, but stressed the American has a lack of experience in the ring. But the preparations for the bout can’t stop him from enjoying the whole situation.