16.01.07 – Phoenix) – Heavyweight prospect Malcolm Tann, 22W and 2L, is publicly calling out Chris Arreola for not backing up his boast last year that he was willing to fight Malcolm Tann and Travis Walker as step up fights. Despite this boast, according to Steve Munisteri, Malcolm Tann’s manager, Arreola backed out of a fight with Tann set for February 9th. Munisteri informed Arreola’s promoter Goossen Tutor last year that Tann would love to fight Chris Arreola Munisteri said.
“Tann accepted a fight with Chris Arreola scheduled for February 9 on ESPN. ESPN even put out a preliminary schedule showing Tann fighting Arreola in New York. Tann skipped his Christmas holidays and did not go home in order to prepare for Arreola only to find out that Arreola is refusing to fight Tann” Munisteri noted.
Tann stated in response to this, “I have a lot of respect for Chris Arreola as a fighter, he comes to fight and had an impressive win over Damian Wills. What I don’t have respect for is another professional fighter telling an internet boxing site in an interview that he was willing to fight me and then when that could be arranged not backing up that boast. It is my understanding that Chris Arreola is still scheduled for February 9 on ESPN Friday Night Fights from New York, so if he has the guts he could still make the fight. Unfortunately, I don’t believe he will step up to the plate. If he doesn’t he should stop talking about fighting anyone anytime and especially not mention my name in interviews. It is disrespectful if you are not going to back it up in the ring.”
Munisteri went on to say, “Malcolm is ready to prove this year that he is a top prospect and worthy of contender status. He suffered two controversial losses which we thought he both won. He could easily be undefeated at 24 and 0. He avenged one of his losses easily and he would like to avenge the other loss. In his last loss to Jenkins he was greatly hampered by going into the fight with a busted eardrum, and reinjuring an elbow and ankle during the fight. The ankle injury was so severe the California Commission suspended him for six months just for this injury.
His elbow injury was so severe it required surgery and seven months of rehabilitation. His busted eardrum caused him not to have any equilibrium in the fight. Yet despite not having any equilibrium, fighting on one injured leg and with one arm, I felt like he still came on at the end of the fight sufficient to at least get a draw. He almost had Jenkins knocked out in the last round. He showed tremendous guts and courage. The type of courage he showed in the Derek Bryant fight when he got knocked down in the first round and yet came back to win the fight. Now Malcolm has fully recovered from all his injuries and is looking better than ever. He was undefeated in 2006 winning six fights in a row including an impressive stoppage of Derek Berry in the third round, and resulting shutout win over Sedrick Fields.
We are looking forward to 2007 to prove that he is a top prospect in the division. If Arreola changes his mind and wants to fight a real fellow prospect on February 9, we can make the fight tomorrow. It would be an exciting fight between two former National Golden Glove Champions, both of whom throw a lot of punches and take no quarter. I hope Arreola reads our release and tells his management that he would like to step up to the plate. IF HE DOESN’T STEP UP THEN HE SHOULD SHUT UP.”