CHRIS ARREOLA vs ISRAEL GARCIA

Undefeated heavyweight Chris Arreola believes he’s ready for anyone, and his promoter, Dan Goossen, shares that belief. Goossen even goes so far as to say that the heavyweight division actually needs Arreola to succeed because of his aggressive style. “He loves to fight,” Goossen says, “and that doesn’t mean hugging and holding his opponent.”

Goossen sees big things ahead for Arreola in the next 12 months, but in the meantime there is business to be taken care of on Thursday’s Versus show when Arreola takes on Israel “King Kong” Garcia, a 6ft 3ins, 240-pounder from New York who has won 19 of 20 bouts.

Garcia seems to be the type of fighter who will play his part in making the 10-rounder a lively battle. “He’s no shrinking violet,” Goossen said of Garcia in a telephone conference call to promote the fight, which takes place at the Soboda Casino in San Jacinto, CA.

Garcia’s promoter, Lou DiBella, says he greatly respects Arreola but believes that in Garcia he is going to be meeting one of his most rugged opponents, a fighter who sees this bout as his big opportunity and who will not be overawed.

Garcia is 38 but says he lost about five years of his career due to problems with promoters. He sees himself as a young 38, a fighter who hasn’t taken a lot of punishment.

Arreola is big, strong and relentless, but Garcia matches him for size. Garcia, of Puerto Rican heritage, lost on points to Taurus Sykes seven years ago when just starting out in his career but he’s won nine fights in a row. His best performance was probably a unanimous six-round decision win over Andriy Oleinyk, a Ukrainian who had won 10 of 12 fights and was considered a prospect.

While Arreola has fought at a much higher level, Garcia has the look of someone who will come into the ring to give his all. This is Garcia’s big chance after all the wasted years. From what I have seen of him he looks like a busy fighter with a good left hook. Yet, while I expect him to give a good account of himself, he looks to be out of his depth in this fight.

Arreola is poised to make a major breakthrough, a fighter who can become a huge attraction with his Mexican heritage and his hard-hitting style. I just cannot see him letting Garcia stand in his way.

Garcia might be able to make a good fight of it for four rounds or so, but I expect Arreola to take over decisively with the sort of heavy-handed attack the like of which Garcia has never faced. I am expecting a win for Arreola in five or six rounds, with a willing Garcia being gradually beaten down and overpowered.