Photo by Gabe Rivas/Round By Round Boxing
On March 27, 2014, Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola held a press conference to announce their May 10 rematch, which will be for the WBC Heavyweight title. The conference was held in the Bashor Lounge, which is located on the campus of the University of Southern California.
The fight will be a twelve-round bout for the WBC Heavyweight title, which was vacated in December by long-time champion Vitali Klitsckho. The fight is being billed as the “Fight for Peace Heavyweight History,” an allusion to Klitsckho’s decision to pursue a political career in Ukraine.
The Heavyweight showdown is jointly promoted by Don King Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions and will be presented live on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. According to ESPN’s Dan Rafael, the decision to present the fight on ESPN is a big deal.
“It is significant for boxing that ESPN, which has televised the sport for the network’s entire existence but not at the very top level, is involved. According to my sources, this is a big commitment from the network,” said Rafael in a recent article.
At today’s press conference, all were excited about ESPN’s involvement, including hall of fame promoter Don King, noting that “they lost track on the Heavyweight division [but] they’re back now.”
As for the fighters, both were respectful, and gave alternate reasons for the outcome of their first encounter.
“We went to the fight injured. My right shoulder and my back [were] injured,” stated Stiverne, as he commented on the acquiescence of his last fight. Stiverne had Arreola seriously hurt in the early part of their fight and was unable to finish Arreola.
Stiverne suggested that his game plan was to stick the jab and to not risk further injury by using his right hand. He was, nevertheless, dominant in his acquiescence.
Arreola’s team, on the other hand, had their reasons for Arreola’s loss.
Henry Ramirez, Arreola’s trainer, told Round By Round Boxing that the training camp for Arreola’s first fight with Stiverne was held near Escondido, California, where Arreola currently resides. “There’s a reason why every camp from there on is going to be away from home,” said Ramirez.
“He’s very self-destructive if you leave him at home. He cannot prepare for a fight at home ever again,” continued Ramirez, promising that Arreola will be in tip-top shape for the rematch. Arreola will now train in San Diego alongside Josesito Lopez, who is also preparing for a fight of his own that will take place on April 24.
Despite the many interpretations from each camp about their first fight, both conceded that their second encounter will still be a tough fight with a lot on the line. Stiverne and Arreola have a chance to make history by either becoming the first ever Haitian-American Heavyweight champion or the first Mexican-American Heavyweight champion.
“It’s a privilege to carry my heritage on my back,” remarked Arreola, “Don’t get me wrong, I love being an American, I’m honored to be an American. But my blood, my Mexican blood just makes me that much more prideful.”
Indeed, both fighters have their respective heritages on their backs, and we will which side prevails on May 10 at the USC’s Galen Center as we crown a new Heavyweight champion.
