Chris Areola A Journeyman? Or Is He Legitimate?

I think Arreola was on track to win the fight before he got his nose busted. Stiverne still couldn't put him away.

The main advantage for Arreola is speed and Arreola looked good vrs. Mitchell.

Arreola's will and conditioning are problems (he was overweight the last time he faced Stiverne). He may be past his best. But Stiverne is also getting up in age and probably getting slower.

It's not that I'm high on Arreola. I'd pick Haye, Povetkin, Pulev, Perez, Thompson etc to beat him. I'd pick Fury over Arreola too, but Arreola has a good shot in that one.

 

He's a gatekeeper.

 

Neither.

A contender.

 

he's not a journeyman, not by the true definition of being a journeyman boxer.

but he's not legit either. never been a top 20. never beaten a top 20.

if you enjoy watching him fight, then no biggie. but please stop trying to make him out be a solid fighter at the weight. he isn't. he'll never be.

 

I imagine he'd beat the internet warriors who post on here by KO 1.

Exactly.

If he were in his best shape, he's be a legit top 5 HW contender. He's always in exciting fights, he's definitely good for the HW division.

 

Yeah, around that level imo

 

Arreola is like a Tex Cobb. These type fighters were always tough but limited. They received a shot at the titles, and could be counted on to lose. Only thing is, now with the limited talent pool in the division, Chris Arreola, is a top contender with a legitimate shot at becoming the champ.

Tex Cobb was born 30 years to soon. Hard to picture having a heavyweight champ with moobs.

 

Journeyman is too harsh, I mean, he's the B-Side sometimes, but not always (which is a sort of classic definition of it). He's a good fighter but not great, certainly not elite. Gatekeeper makes sense.

He will expose someone who doesn't come prepared or who doesn't have "it" in the first place. That might be his greatest contribution to HW boxing, he'll let us fans know if someone is legit or not because of the pressure and power and pace he brings.

 

He's a gatekeeper, I don't see how he could be confused for anything else. He beats people on their way, gets a shot and then loses. That is then recycled over and over.

 

Arreola is top ten and would knock Wilder out cold...............he will beat Stiverne in a rematch.............

 

Legit as a top 10 ranked guy at a couple different points of his career, yes.

I think he has a good chance against Stiverne, honestly. Will probably be picking Stiverne, but nonetheless a win in a rematch for the vacant strap legitimizes his career more and sets him up for an opportunity to further himself greatly.

 

A world class HW but not European level.

 

Exactly that Elroy. European level is the top level at HW and Arreola has been beaten when trying to step up from world level into the tough HW European scene.

 

How is he a top contender? Who has he beat in the top 10 or even the top 20? Pulev, Haye, Povetkin, Fury, Chisora, Thompson, Adamek, Stiverne, Wlad, Helenius and Vitali are all better than Arreola. That's 11 fighters during his time as an active heavyweight that have had better resumes and are simply better fighters. He's never been a true top 10 fighter down to ability or resume, only hype, a good promoter and an amiable sanctioning body have allowed him into anyone's top 10.

He has been a title challenger once against Vitali and only got a second shot against Stiverne because the WBC want a Mexican heavyweight champion, all that despite being already comprehensively beaten by an out of shape Stiverne. Arreola certainly didn't earn his shots he has never beaten another top contender to deserve a title shot.

I can't wait for the Arreola/Stiverne rematch. Arreola can show up in the best shape in his life and it still won't change the fact he's crude, easy to hit and one dimensional. Stiverne will school him again, maybe even stop him this time if Stiverne bothers to show up in better shape than last time.

 

Arreola would KO Chisora and Helenius. Probably in favour to beat Fury too. Guess Arreola will become next WBC-champ with a KO-win over Stiverne. Adamek and Thompson are 50/50 fights. Vitali is better, he got a puncher chance against Wlad and Haye. Don't know about Povetkin and Pulev.