Live heavyweight boxing returns to the City Of Angels next month, September 26th, as WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko defends his title against challenger Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola. In the buildup to the fight, the two boxers and their respective camps met today at Staples Center, the sight of the soon-to-be brawl, in downtown Los Angeles.
Vitali (37-2, 36 KO’s), who now resides in Los Angeles, is making his third appearance at Staples Center. His first fight there was a controversial loss to then champion Lennox Lewis in 2003. Vitali was ahead on all scorecards before the fight was stopped due to a gash over his eye that required over 60 stitches. Vitali impressed in his second trip to Staples in 2004 with an 8th round TKO win over Corrie Sanders. “This is my first fight against a Mexican fighter. I am very intrigued and excited about the fight. I know Mexican fighters have big hearts and anticipate Arreola will be no different. I am not sure who will win, but I know the fight will not go 12 rounds and I trust myself”, Klitschko predicted about the upcoming battle.
The undefeated Arreola (27-0, 24 KO’s), who was born in Los Angeles but resides in nearby Riverside, CA, is fighting for the first time on the big stage of Staples. However this does not deter the much younger yet eager fighter, “He is a man just like I am a man”, stated Arreola. “He has two fists and a chin just like I do. We are both going in the ring to hurt each other, hopefully I’m not the one to end up hurt.” The overall tone of the press conference was this will be an explosive fight that will not go 12 rounds. President of Goosen Tutor Promotions Dan Goosen, “The knockout ratio of both fighters is phenomenal and this fight won’t be any different. The fan doesn’t want to see jabs and clinching, they want to see big punches and knockouts, and I know this fight will deliver.”
With both fighters residing in the Los Angeles area, this fight should be close to a sell out and match the previous record set earlier this year by Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito. They packed the arena with 20,000 people partly due to the fact that they are both Los Angeles area natives. Tickets go on sale Saturday, August 15th and are priced from $500 all the way down to $25 and will be shown live on HBO 10p.m. ET/7p.m. PT.
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