Former title challenger Chris Arreola (35-5, 31 KOs) scored a tougher-than-expected unanimous decision win over Curtis Harper (12-4, 8 KOs) at the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, California.
The 8-round Heavyweight fight was presented on Premier Boxing Champions’ first telecast on Spike TV.
Arreola started the round auspiciously as he landed a thunderous right hand that quickly put Harper on his back.
It was a result that many expected—a quick win for the power puncher Arreola.
However, what many in the arena tonight including Arreola didn’t expect was the iron chin of Harper.
Harper took a lot of punishment tonight as Arreola landed combination after combination in his failed attempts at stopping Harper.
“He’s tough man. I caught him with a lot of shots. He took them really well,” said Arreola of Harper.
The fight even seemed to be over for Arreola himself as a combination in Round 4 hurt him and wobbled him nearly as bad as Bermane Stiverne did in their fight.
Nevertheless, Arreola would spend the rest of the fight pounding a relentless Harper and won with scores of 76-75, 78-73, and 77-74.
Arreola, after coming in very overweight at 262.3 pounds and after struggling with Harper, was very much aware of his lackluster performance, evident in the grade he gave himself.
“Overall I thought it was a D. I could have done a lot better. I didn’t throw enough combinations,” said Arreola.
“Whenever I threw punches it was working for me. I have to be more active,” said Arreola, who plans to make a return very soon.
“I want April 17, the sooner the better. I’m ready to go back to gym right now.”
