03.07.08 – by James Slater: A clash between unbeaten Chris Arreola and former world title challenger David Tua has been in the pipeline for some time now. And according to a recent article in The New Zealand Sunday News, the fight is very close to being made official. Also, the word is, the winner will be rewarded with a world title shot afterwards..
Tua has cancelled the July 12th tune-up he was going to have in Ukraine, so as to rule out any chance whatsoever of the fight with Arreola being put at risk. It seems the big-punching Samoan is at last serious about taking a big fight. While for his part, Arreola has said he’ll fight anybody. Let’s take a look at what we can expect from a Tua Vs. Arreola showdown.
At first glance, such a fight has “Guaranteed KO” written all over it. But this may not actually be the case when the two fighters collide. We know Tua has a rock solid chin and always has, so therefore if there is one guy who gets put to sleep chances are it will not be “The Tuaman.” But Arreola, too, has shown a fine set of whiskers thus far in his career. Yes, “The Nightmare’s” chin will almost certainly get tested like never before in the fight with Tua, but there is nothing to suggest the 27-year-old from Riverside, California is even a little bit vulnerable when it comes to taking a solid hit. I think, despite the odds, a Tua-Arreola bout will actually go the distance.
Whilst speaking with this writer on the subject of a possible fight with Tua, Areola said he felt the fight would be somewhat similar to Tua’s war with the now imprisoned Ike Ibeabuchi. That fight, if you recall, went the distance – despite the fact that both heavyweights were power punchers. Will we see twelve all-action rounds of similar quality when Tua and Arreola meet? Let’s hope so.
The fight could happen in September, by which time, without his proposed tune-up, the 35-year-old Tua will have been out of action for a full year. Not only that, but he has not faced a serious test since his rematch with Hasim Rahman, way back in March of 2003. Will the 49-3-1(42) Tua be ring-rusty when he gets in there with the 24-0(21) Arreola? Maybe. But If he’s still half the fighter he was in his prime, Tua gives “The Nightmare” his toughest fight yet. As rugged and as tough as the 27-year-old has looked, he has not yet met anyone like the peak David Tua.
But it’s been so long since Tua engaged in a quality fight that we just don’t know what he has left. Some people have said Tua’s lost his desire, and has only remained in the sport to make money. If, however, he is once again motivated, serious and hungry about becoming world champion, we could have a war on our hands when he squares up with Arreola. Being unbeaten, Chris will not be in any mood to lose to a guy seen as past his best. This will make his desire to win as great as can be imagined. Indeed, Arreola is a guy who likes fighting and more importantly likes winning. I think it’s all but certain we will see both men at the very best they can be for this fight.
Both warriors will look to put some real hurt on the other, both will have to take some hard shots and the fight will then come down to a battle of attrition, who-wants-it-more type of battle. There may be a knockdown along the way, but don’t be surprised, or disappointed, if this one goes the full twelve rounds. The quality of the action will see to it that a KO is not necessary.
I go for Arreola, being the fresher man, to nick a very close and hard-fought split decision.