By James Slater: It’s possible heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko is somewhat sympathetic to the current plight U.S fans are going through with regards to their not having had a heavyweight ruler in a long time – so much longer than anyone could have possibly predicted back when guys named Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe and Foreman were ruling the world.
“Dr. Steel Hammer,” a good student of boxing and its long history, says he wants to come back to American in his next fight at the end of the year (after he’s taken care of his July mandatory with Tony Thompson). And Klitschko says he is willing to give another U.S challenger a shot at bringing the Ring Magazine, WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts back home.
“At the end of the year I will face either Chris Arreola, who has recovered well from the loss against Vitali. He knocked out a lot of guys,” Wladimir told CBS Sports. “And I want to introduce you to Seth Mitchell, an undefeated American fighter.”
There is no doubt that either fight would sell (providing “Mayhem” gets past a motivated Chazz Witherspoon on April 28th, and keeps his unbeaten pro record) – but which fighter would have the best chance of bringing the belts back to the U.S? (begging Thompson’s pardon, as he might, just might, do it before either young contender gets the opportunity to shock the world by handing Wlad his first loss in eight long years!)
Arreola, now in his thirties, who has lost only to Vitali and Tomasz Adamek, has no next fight announced, yet an active work rate saw him remain very busy after the disappointing loss to Adamek, and “The Nightmare” has indeed, “knocked out a lot of guys.” Arreola, a Mexican/American, has gone on record as saying he believes his pressure style will be too much for Wladimir, and that it will be he who brings to titles back to the U.S.
In terms of the likely action, I’d love to see a Wladimir-Arreola clash. But would the younger, unbeaten Mitchell have a better chance when it comes to actually winning the fight, not just making it exciting?
So far, aside from an early draw, Mitchell, a former football player, has not put a foot wrong in his boxing career. Talented, fast, athletic and carrying at least respectable punching power (see his most recent win: a 2nd-round stoppage of the tough Timur Ibragimov), the 29-year-old said recently that he will be ready for one of the brothers “this time next year” (The Bunce Boxing Hour, this past Monday). Maybe, if he does a number on “Gentleman” Chazz, Mitchell will feel ready to accept an invite to challenge Wladimir this year?
“Fast” Eddie Chambers aside (who has already lost by KO to Wladimir), most fans would probably agree that Arreola and Mitchell are the best U.S big men on the scene today (again, begging Tony Thompson’s pardon) – Wladimir seems to feel this way himself, and it could be that he gives one of the two contenders a shot this fall in New York.
Either man would naturally enter the ring as a considerable underdog, but something tells me both Arreola and Mitchell will fight the fight of their lives if given the shot. But which contender will get their first?