Arreola Report from ESPN

[Faulks]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- There was no crying from Cristobal Arreola this time as the heavyweight contender stopped Brian Minto in the fourth round of an entertaining slugfest on Saturday in the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall.

 

The last time Arreola, 28, of Riverside, Calif., was in the ring, he went on a crying jag while cursing his way through an emotional HBO postfight interview in September after Vitali Klitschko had stopped him in the 10th round of a heavyweight title fight in Los Angeles.

 

There were no such overwhelming emotions in his return as Arreola unloaded punch after punch on Minto in the action-packed fourth round to finally stop him in the co-featured bout on the Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez undercard.

 

Arreola had badly swelled Minto's left eye in the second round, but Minto never wavered in his commitment to fighting. He landed a lot of punches, but they just didn't have the kind of power on them that Arreola's did, nor could Minto successfully get on the inside against his bigger opponent.

 

Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) also landed numerous hard shots, but Minto, who weighed 45 pounds less than him, showed an excellent chin -- until the fourth round.

 

That's when Arreola did damage. He landed a sweeping right hand that deposited Minto on his knees with 90 seconds left in the round.

 

Minto, 34, of Butler, Pa., got to his feet and engaged Arreola in a toe-to-toe brawl.

 

But Arreola got the better of it and landed three right hands, which knocked Minto (34-3, 21 KOs) down again. He rolled over onto his knees and beat referee Eddie Cotton's count, but he was in no condition to continue and Cotton stopped it at 2 minutes, 40 seconds.

 

"It was a real tough fight," said Minto, whose seven-fight winning streak ended. "He's a big, tough guy and he throws an awkward right hand. I tried to move and use my feet. That was the game plan. He's a big puncher and he can hit hard."

 

Whether the victory puts Arreola back into title contention remains to be seen, given Minto's lack of credentials. But Minto did show a ton of heart and it was one heck of a fight.

 

"Great fight. I got to take my hat off to Brian Minto," Arreola said. "I hurt my hand -- on his head. Regardless of my previous loss I am still a top 10 heavyweight in the world, if not top five. He's no Vitali Klitschko but he's still tough. Who is Vitali Klitschko? Nobody."

 

Arreola, who would like to get back in the ring in the next three months, weighed a career-heavy 263 pounds and is getting a bit tired of people discussing his weight.

 

"I do come in here at 263 and people make fun of me behind my back, but I come in here to fight," Arreola said. "The problem is when I train I get hungry."

[WelshDevilRob]

Just watched the Arreola vs Minto fight and it was entertaining. Good win for Arreola.

 

The 4th and final round was fantastic. Minto gave it all he had and went down fighting.

[grapevine241]

it was nice rebound for arreola, but i hope he doesnt try to fight another kilitschko without fighting a few top 10 guys first (at least one)... even a top 15 guy like james toney or tony thompson would be better than the usual arreola opponents. still his fights will usually be exciting regardless.

[gemmell100]

good little win for arreola. haye vs arreola would be good. but haye is way tto fast and powerful think arreola would be a punch bag

[king09]

hahahaahahahaahahahahahahahahahaahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahaaahhaahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahaaha

[viva_marquez]

haye would get knocked out! arreola called him a p-ssy and haye said nothing.but still would be a ggod fight. boxing2//

[Faulks]

haye would get knocked out! arreola called him a p-ssy and haye said nothing.but still would be a ggod fight. boxing2//

 

what the hell makes you think that pal??? Haye eats the lardarse all day IMO