by James Slater – Thanks in large part to the explosive talents of one David “The Hayemaker” Haye, the heavyweight division is fast becoming one of excitement and intrigue again. For a number of years the fans have been turned off by safety-first orientated and/ or lumbering giants who failed to provide the high-octane, all-action type fights needed. Well, in less than two week’s time another exciting heavyweight wannabe is in action, and his fight may well join the Haye-Monte Barrett slugfest and become a second end of year thriller put on in the sport’s ultimate weight class..
Ask a fan today who the most exciting young heavyweight in the world is, Haye aside, and their answer is likely to be Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola. Not as fast and explosive as Haye, but a rugged, no-nonsense and aggressive slugger who looks to eat up his opponents the way Haye craves a KO, the unbeaten 27-year-old has already provided many thrills. Come November 29th, as one of the fighters who will be starring in the chief supporting bout to the Paul Williams-Verno Phillips light-middleweight clash, Arreola may well provide more.
Indeed, in taking on the heavy-handed Travis “Freight Train” Walker, Arreola might just give us a fight even more raw and exciting than Saturday’s Haye-Barrett battle. Though he has been accused (quite rightly) of coming in too heavy in some of his fights, Arreola will be in top shape for November 29th’s important bout. He better be, anyway. For while Walker may not be the fastest guy in the world, he can whack and is extremely dangerous. A couple of years older than “The Nightmare” at 29, Walker, 28-1-1(22) has promised to lay it all on the line on the 29th. What we potentially have in store, then, is another heavyweight rumble that will also go a ways to restoring some of the exhilaration the heavyweight division at one time had in an abundance.
Big things are expected of Arreola, most peoples’ pick for the best US hope at the weight, and the Walker fight may well be just the beginning of some top quality, high profile fights for him. Getting past Walker, especially if he gets past him in spectacular fashion, will only reinforce Arreola’s position as a man who poses a genuine threat to the current heavyweight champions. Unbeaten in 25 fights, all but three of his wins coming inside schedule, Arreola doesn’t know how to lose. It would be very interesting to hear what the easygoing and likeable Californian has to say about all the hype and media interest his heavyweight rival (and, who knows, possible future opponent) is currently getting. I wouldn’t mind betting it’s made/is making him train hard in an effort to be able to go out there and prove he is just as much a real thing heavyweight as is the Brit, perhaps even more so.
It does seem as though Haye and Arreola’s paths have a good chance of crossing (they already have, and if you can believe the rumours Haye got the better of Arreola in a heated sparring session some months back) so clearly are they the two best young big men coming through right now. In an ideal world, they should fight it out; with the winner being rewarded with a title shot. Whether or not this actually happens, rests in large part on what happens a week on Saturday in Ontario, CA.
Should Arreola put on an impressive and rousing show in beating Walker, public opinion may well cry out for a Haye-Arreola showdown. Let’s face it, the fight would be almost perfect for each guy next time out, and an excellent last hurdle for the victor to get over as he approaches a hoped for meeting with one of the Klitschko brothers. It would also almost certainly be yet another crowd pleasing and drama-filled tussle.
It’s easy to get carried away, but the heavyweight division, thanks to punchers like Arreola and Haye, might just give us one of its most fun-filled years in 2009!