CHRIS ARREOLA vs MANUEL QUEZADA

UPDATED: Apparently disappointed with himself for his losing performance against Tomasz Adamek in April, Chris Arreola promises a much-improved display when he meets Manuel Quezada in the main event on Friday Night Fights.
 
I wouldn’t say this fight is make or break for Arreola, but it is very important to his career. Arreola is 29. Vitali Klitschko outclassed him, but Arreola seemed to have a very good chance of beating Adamek. It looked a fight that Arreola might have won, too, had he possessed a bit more energy. He seemed to hurt the Polish boxer at times but couldn’t sustain the offensive and Adamek deservedly and clearly outpointed him, even though it was a majority decision (one round on one card from being a draw).
 
The big criticism of Arreola has long been that he just doesn’t look that part, with his flabby physique giving the impression that he isn’t willing to pay the price in his preparation.
 
Arreola weighed 239 pounds for what I thought was his sharpest showing, the three-round win over Chazz Witherspoon two years ago. Since then he hasn’t been south of 250 pounds. He weighed 256 pounds for the Quezada fight; I expected something lighter and perhaps should have known better.
 
At least Arreola has admitted that his work ethic hasn’t always been what it could be. He is a likeable sort who jokes that he loves to drink beer and eat tacos, neither of which is recommended in large quantities for those seeking a slender look. It is all well and good to be easygoing and fun loving, but world-class heavyweight boxing is a serious business. Perhaps Arreola has finally realised this. We will find out on Friday.
 
Arreola is a fan-friendly fighter, tough and willing, and a good puncher. I like the fact that, after appearing in big fights on HBO, he is taking this fight on ESPN2. It suggests to me that Arreola simply wants to get back in the ring and fight, and that he is serious when he says he wants to prove something. This is encouraging.
 
Quezada is obviously the clear underdog, having been outpointed by trial horse Jason Gavern in his last fight. Before this, though, he had won 18 bouts in a row, including a first-round knockout over Travis Walker, the big-muscled fellow who had Arreola down before getting blasted out of the fight in three rounds.
 
When I interviewed Quezada last year he described his style as “more of a counter puncher but at the same time I’m moving forward and putting on pressure”. A former kick boxer with no amateur boxing background, he learned on the job as a professional and told me he believed he had improved greatly training under the direction of Joe Goossen in Los Angeles.
 
Arreola and Quezada have sparred with each other, though not extensively, and the two Mexican-American heavyweights have a cordial relationship. On Friday, though, it is business first, friendship second.
 
Arreola should win, of course. The oddsmakers have him as a -1100 favourite and the over/under is set at 6.5 rounds. Believe it or not I think that 6.5 rounds is the perfect number. I do expect Arreola to stop Quezada — I think he is the better, more experienced, more powerful fighter and I am taking him at his word that he wants to prove a point on Friday. Quezada isn’t easy to budge, though. He can box a bit and bang a bit, and I know he will be coming to give his all. If Arreola can win inside six and a half rounds I will consider it an excellent performance — especially in view of his weight.
 
Betting suggestion in subscribers’ section: Coming up later today for subscribers: Anselmo Moreno-Nehomar Cermeno preview.