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Vitali Klitschko Now Looking Towards A Fight In October Or November, New Opponent Needed

By James Slater:
With David Haye having walked away from a reported verbal agreement to fight him, WBC heavyweight ruler Vitali Klitschko is in search of a new and high profile challenger to face next. The September 12th date now out, Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente has told ESPN.com that his fighter will probably now fight in either October or November, and that they are currently attempting to find the right man for "Dr. Iron Fist" to fight.

It's not 100-percent clear why the original date cannot be used but against a replacement for Haye, but the probable reason the date has been lost is because seven weeks is not quite enough time for a suitable contender to be found. Certainly, Chris Arreola, one of the main men in Klitschko's sights, has made it clear he wants a full and proper training camp to be at his very best for the potential fight.

And, according to Boente, "The Nightmare" is the fighter Vitali may well fight next, and in America. In many ways a better and more intriguing fight than Vitali-Haye, Arreola challenging the 38-year-old would be a bout the fans would be happy with. Unbeaten and aggressive, Arreola has done more at heavyweight than Haye has and his credentials have been way more proven.

Sure, the Mexican/American would enter the fight as the underdog, but as rugged and as tough as he is Arreola would have to be given more than a puncher's chance. And with Kevin Johnson, Odlanier Solis and Haye now all busy, and with Eddie Chambers and Alexander Povetkin in the _frame_ for a shot at Wladimir Klitschko, Arreola is clearly the best next challenger for Vitali.

If the fight does take place in October or November, Klitschko will have been out of action for seven or eight months, while Arreola will not have fought since April of this year. A fair amount of time out this is, but in today's heavyweight division it's not too much of a concern. Let's hope the potential slugfest gets made.

As for IBF and WBO champ Wladimir, again according to ESPN, talks are underway to get the younger brother's next fight sorted out. Wladimir has two mandatory challengers to accommodate, Povetkin and Chambers, and reports suggest Wladimir is more interested in facing Chambers; "because it's the better fight for HBO and the better fight for America." Going by how impressive Chambers looked against Alexander Dimitrenko last time out, it's tough to argue with such thinking. Of course, Povetkin, who has been biding his time, will have to be given his shot soon also.

With Haye set to fight Nikolai Valuev, and with both Klitschkos lining up exciting fights, the heavyweight division is looking as good as it has in some time.

V. Klitschko, Arreola reach deal

Vitali Klitschko and Chris Arreola have reached an agreement to fight on Sept. 26 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to a reliable source.

Arreola turned down an offer to fight THE RING’s No. 1-rated heavyweight and the WBC _title_holder on Sept. 12 because he felt he wouldn’t have enough time to prepare but accepted a second offer to fight two weeks later.

Klitschko thought he had a deal in place to defend his belt against David Haye on Sept. 12 in Germany but Haye decided to fight Nikolai Valuev instead, which opened the door for the undefeated Arreola (27-0, 24 knockouts).

Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs) has fought twice at Staples Center, losing to Lennox Lewis because of a cut but proving his toughness in 2003 and stopping Corrie Sanders the following year. The Ukrainian is 2-0 in his comeback after a four-year hiatus.

The will be Arreola’s first opportunity to fight for a major _title_.

The brawler from Riverside, Calif., rated No. 6 by THE RING, has never fought at nearby Staples Center. He is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Jameel McCline in April.


It's also posted at boxrec.com. http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=7033&cat=boxer

Vitali Klitschko-Chris Arreola A Done Deal For September 26th?

by James Slater -

According to a number of reliable sources, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has reached a deal to defend his belt against unbeaten contender Chris Arreola at The Staples Centre in Los Angeles on September 26th. According to Ring on line (Ring on line in turn having been advised by a "reliable source") Arreola said no to a September 12th fight with the WBC champ, but said yes to the September 26th date.

The bout has yet to be announced officially, but things are looking good for this fight happening. As fans know, "Dr Iron Fist" was all set to attempt to close the big mouth of the colourful and exciting David Haye on September 12th in Germany; only for "The Hayemaker" to anger Klitschko by taking a fight with WBA champ Nikolai Valuev instead. Enter "The Nightmare," a fighter who has been awaiting his shot at a world _title_ for some months.. At one point it looked as though Arreola would continue to play the waiting game and box former WBC champ Oleg Maskaev next, but with Haye out the 28-year-old seems set to get his chance quicker than he at first thought.

Arguably a better challenger than Haye, and one with a better chance of winning, 28-year-old Arreola of Riverside, California will be looking to make boxing history by beating the formidable 38-year-old Ukrainian.

If Arreola, 27-0(24) manages to upset and dethrone Klitschko, he will become the first boxer with Mexican roots to have won a world heavyweight _title_. This factor is motivating Arreola, but winning the _title_ and fulfilling a dream is pretty much all the motivation the tough slugger needs. Can he beat Klitschko, a man who has lost just twice in almost 40 pro fights and who took everything huge puncher and all-time great Lennox Lewis threw at him back in 2003? It sure won't be easy.

But Arreola knows it won't be easy, and he and his trainer Henry Ramirez have been studying both Klitschko brothers for some time in preparation for this big chance. And Eddie Chambers and possibly Alexander Povetkin aside, who has a better chance at knocking off a Klitschko than Arreola?

One thing is sure, the September 26th fight will not be dull. Both men can punch, both men are aggressive and if he can get inside (Arreola's only chance of victory, surely) and test Vitali's body and now 38-year-old chin, the action could be of the two-way variety. Win or lose, Arreola WILL come to fight, of that you can be certain.

Let's hope official confirmation of this exciting-looking match-up is forthcoming.

Klitschko-Arreola in the works!

By Karl Freitag

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs) will face WBC #1 rated Chris Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs) on September 26 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. “We are going the right direction but no contract has been signed yet,” Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of the Klitschko Management Group, confirmed to Fightnews.com earlier today. Klitschko was originally slated to face David Haye on September 12th in an outdoor megafight in Hamburg, Germany, however Haye instead opted to challenge WBA champion Nikolai Valuev.