Cristobal Arreola: Klitschko's Nightmare

You could have guessed it. People are talking but fans tread lightly. I don’t doubt Chris Arreola’s promise; I doubt his timing.

Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola is, to say the least, a blessing to the heavyweight division. After several weak years under the mundane Klitschko brothers rule, the heavyweight class was seemingly belly up in affability.

Now, we have a new threat on the scene.  One with character, chops, and a benchmark to set.  He's a California Mexican in hasty stride toward the Klitschko’s killing field.

Arreola’s latest bout against journeyman Jameel McCline did nothing to prove his growth. In fact, it put on display Arreola’s continuing lack of responsibility for his aggressive fighting style.

However old and slow McCline may have been at that point, he was able to expound on the openings that seem to be routine in an Arreola assault. 

Against Travis Walker, albeit a better opponent than McCline, Arreola’s offense was exposed in a similar fashion.

Walker survived heavy combinations to eventually find the hole Arreola creates by dropping his hands, his left guard almost predictably, when bringing the heat, and Walker put him on the canvas.

But for Arreola’s recklessness, he has the chin and the composure to make up for it.

Chris’s power and accuracy seem unparalleled in the heavyweight division right now. Even more, the frequency of his combinations, which he executes low and high, are something to behold.

However, watching Arreola makes me wonder how he has maintained an undefeated record with 20 wins yet still looks like a raw but gifted rookie.

Somehow, I find Arreola to be just one test away from his final against Wladimir. 

For what Wladimir is worth, he has the knack for finding the chink in the armor of any opponent.  If Arreola were to come at Wladimir, which in a way is exactly how and why Arreola can beat Wlad, I’m positive Klitschko will find his opening multiple times.

Klitschko has probably never seen the kind of pressure Arreola will apply. However, Wlad does have the experience and craftiness to make Arreola’s aggression and weak offensive guard a means to an end of the nightmare.

First, Arreola needs the likes of David Haye or Ruslan Chagaev to challenge his brute nature. 

Haye and Chagaev are fighters that have quick hands and are mostly counter-punchers, the kind of opponents Arreola must face to learn to be accountable for his sometimes careless action.

Can Chris be the first Mexican heavyweight champ? 

Is he ready for war?

If he can clean up at the next level, we should ready ourselves for a brutal dethroning of the Klitschko tyranny.

But if Chris jumps the gun, he’ll be a cautionary tale.

In any circumstance, this is only until David Tua arrives, but that’s a whole other story.