Vitali's comeback. Very dominant

I said it recently Chris. I did think well of Arreola, but he has just refused to get himself back in shape and lose that flab all over his body. A 235lb Arreola is a dangerous fighter. A 250-265lb Arreola is a fat harpooned whale waiting to happen. I used to think Arreola had the potential to become champion, but not anymore, because he does not have the self dedication nor to management to help him get there. At this rate, Sam Peter is looking as a better heavyweight than Arreola. At least Peter got himself back under 240lb, and has beaten a few quality heavyweights.

Arreola was Vitali's best win. But what does this say about Vitali? Arreola cannot be considered anymore than 'good', especially with his recent bad defeat to Adamek. Arreola stunned Adamek throughout the fight, but he was so fat and out of shape, he couldn't follow through and allowed himself to get outboxed and outworked. A 235lb Arreola knocks out Adamek. Many people rate Vitali up there with other ATG's, so in order for him to be up there, he has to have some very good names under his win column. I see a couple good names, I just don't see any very good ones.


ps I also predicted Vitali to beat Arreola. I said Arreola was too green, and that he needed to get his weight back down to 235lb.

 

I agree, he's had a very impressive comeback. Won't be fully appreciated for a while, though.

 

Fair enough, but one more thing: do you honestly believe it would've mattered whether Arreola weighed 255 or 235lbs? If it was a close shave, then sure. But he got battered in every round.

Plus, while he's in awful shape, his stamina seems to be solid. He never really gassed, he was just outclassed.

 

Vitally's comeback has brought me round to him somewhat, having been verry critical of his record before he came out of retirment.

I picked Peter to beat him based on the estimate that I was likley to see an empty shell of Vitally. Since then he has added ranked oponents to his resume.

It is unfortunate in some ways that he has been superior to his opportunities. Some better contenders at key stages of his career would have given him an opportunity to shine.

 

Against Vitali? Probably not. Although he might have got in a hard shot or two briefly stunning Vitali(Believe it or not Vitali can be hurt. Sanders dazzled him badly in round 1). I thought Arreola was too green to compete with Vitali. Vitali did look pretty good that night. I do rate Vitali in my top 40 heavyweights of all time, so it's not like I completely write off the guy.

Sure. But don't you think 20lb less would tremendously improve his handspeed, his reflexes, his workrate, and most importantly his self confidence?

I really liked Arreola against Chazz Witherspoon. Why can't Arreola get back down to that shape of form? Sam Peter did.

 

People criticise the Klitschko brothers because many of their opponents are overweight.

I personaly think that if ranked contenders can't be bothered to get themselves into shape for a title fight, then I for one will never want to see them prevail.

The Klitschko's are profesional fighters, who take their proffesion seriously. Simply put, they are better than the people put against them at the moment.

 

That's pretty much it.

They take the trouble to get themselves into tip top shape.... too many others have just turned up to fall over and take a cheque.

What really pisses me off is that they simply seem to accept defeat and just stand there getting pummeled. Why not throw some bombs, move.... do something!

Arreola is just a talented, lazy bum.... the Adamek defeat looks bad, but if the Pole fights Haye and wins (hardly impossible) it might not seem so bad.

 

I liked him against Witherspoon too. But you know what, it's easy to look good against a soft touch. Looking good against a big man with fast reflexes and feet is another thing. No one has ever looked good against Vitali*. Tony Thompson showed a lot of precision, timing and effectiveness against Witherspoon. But he'd get the same beatdown if he were to rematch Wlad.

Incidentally, i picked Peter to beat VK. It wasn't just Peter's weight that night. I opened my old tape of Peter against Wlad and he's a COMPLETELY different fighter. Of course the 15lbs less helps, but he was so much more active, so much more hungry and so much more dangerous. He looked a bit of his old self against at 237lbs against Aguilera, a decent opponent, in the Gaylord hotel. Make of that what you will.

*Byrd could've looked good, but his own style prevented that from happening

 

Yeah, you are correct..... but if you've earned your opportunity it's better to go down swinging than trying to go the distance for a moral victory (whatever that means) - boxing must be full of fighters that have won fights they ought to have lost (or were behind in) by loading up....

I don't see Adamek winning titles, but there's nothing to stop him having a decent run and knocking over a few contenders - I've certainly got more respect for him than recent Klitschko challengers like Chagaev and Johnson that did nothing.

 

:deal

 

I hope it,s an entertaining fight ,but where is Sosnowski rated?

 

That's true, their skills are often negated by what both of them do in the ring.

But still.... it's just a problem I have.

All it takes is one punch to change a fight - Wlad isn't exactly Oliver McCall in the chin department, and Vitali is bound to struggle with movers :think