LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Arreola weighed in at a surprisingly slim 251 pounds (114 kilograms) on Thursday for his WBC heavyweight title challenge against Vitali Klitschko this weekend, but only a brief prank.
Arreola
(27-0, 24 KOs) poked fun at his reputation for a paunchy physique when
he mounted the scale outside Staples Center with his shirt on,
registering at 277 pounds (126 kilograms). Arreola then removed his
shirt to reveal a large weight vest, taking it off to reveal a
considerably fitter build than he’s showed in his past few fights.
Although
both fighters live in Southern California, Arreola was the favorite of
a small but vocal crowd hoping he’ll become the first Mexican-American
heavyweight champion on Saturday.
“You guys are going to be proud
of heavyweights for once,” Arreola told the crowd. “We’re going to put
on a show, and it’s going to be great. It’s not going to be just a
wildman, caveman type of fight.”
Arreola hasn’t weighed in below
254 pounds (115 kilograms) for a fight in 15 months, and his belly has
been used against him to suggest he wasn’t serious about training. When
he signed for a title shot, Arreola hired a strength and conditioning
coach and rededicated himself to transforming his body.
Though he
still isn’t exactly slim, trainer Henry Ramirez believes the
power-punching Los Angeles native is in the best physical shape of his
career. Arreola has gone the distance just once in his 27 pro fights,
also winning two disqualifications.
Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs), who
is favored to defend his belt, was joined on the podium by his younger
brother, Wladimir, the IBF and WBO champion. Vitali Klitschko weighed
in at 252 pounds (114 kilograms) — the heaviest weight of the Ukrainian champion’s career by 2 pounds (almost a kilo) — with a more sculpted build.
The
38-year-old Klitschko is headed into his third bout back from an injury
absence of nearly four years. He hasn’t lost since his title fight with
Lennox Lewis was stopped because of a cut despite Klitschko’s lead on
the scorecards in June 2003 at Staples Center.
