by James Slater – Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the sweet display of boxing skill that was put on by Floyd Mayweather Junior on Saturday night as he dominated a brave Juan Manual Marquez, and I’d enjoyed the build-up and the hype leading up to the fight, too. But as superb as “Money” looked in Las Vegas, there was never any real drama in the one-sided fight and there certainly were no switching of momentums in the 12-rounder. This coming Saturday, however, in Los Angeles, we just might get a fight that has plenty of drama as well as a few switches and changes in momentum, as WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko meets undefeated Mexican/American Chris Arreola.
There doesn’t figure to be anywhere near the skill on display we saw at The MGM Grand, by either heavyweight, but the action and drama both promise to be plentiful. And as much as fans can appreciate a fine display of the Sweet Science, they also love a good, old fashioned slug fest. There seems no way we will not be treated to one when the two huge men climb into the ring inside The Staples Centre. For unless we see a quick KO scored by either the champion or his challenger, there figures to be some memorable bombs away trading for around half a dozen rounds at least..
And though the 28-year-old “Nightmare” is almost as big an underdog as Juan Manuel Marquez was before last night’s fight, Arreola at least has something “Dinamita” never really had: a legitimate puncher’s chance. A fight that has had a totally different build-up to Mayweather-Marquez, and a fight that will be a complete polar opposite to what last night’s welterweight showdown was, Klitschko-Arreola has a much better shot at sending the fans home happy.
Both heavyweights are well liked by the fans, and both Klitschko and Arreola are respectful professionals. There is no bad guy-good guy element to this fight. The fans are sure to get behind whoever it is who gains the initiative, and they will cheer him on for as long as he maintains it. Then, as the momentum switches in the other guy’s favour, the fans will give him their vocal support. Don’t count on any boos being heard on Saturday night.
As to who will win, 38-year-old “Dr Iron Fist” has to be the pick, but no way will the champion have an easy night and no way would I risk a big wager on the giant coming through. Also, a KO, while a strong possibility, is no definite, and a distance fight could be on the cards. Above all, the fight will be a value for money affair. Arreola himself has said he hopes the fight will be a classic. Maybe it will be.