Kownacki vs Arreola Preview

Kownacki vs Arreola Preview

By Mathew Dean

Adam Kownacki vs Chris Arreola is scheduled for August 3rd. A fight, some are touting as yet another step on the world title road challenge for the Polish heavyweight.

Kownacki (19-0-0 15KOs) in his last fight, scored a decent stoppage over Gerald Washington. He is an exciting fighter to watch, we aren’t talking about the beauty of the sweet science. When he’s in a ring he is only ever concerned with coming forward, so don’t expect him to take a step back.

Arreola (38-5-1 33KOs) is also no stranger to a tear-up so expect this to be a good measure of how Kownacki is progressing.

Taking place at the Barclays Center in New York, Kownacki will have a partisan support to make the atmosphere that much more intimidating. However, it’s the youth against experience battle and Arreola certainly isn’t lacking in that department. At 38, to the more youthful Pole’s 30 years, it not a given that this is an easy fight for the rising contender.

Kownacki is ranked at no 12 in the WBA, 5 in the WBC and 4 in the IBF rankings. Arreola isn’t ranked by any of the big 4 alphabet groups but having shared ring time with Vitali Kitschko, Bermane Stiverne, Jameel McCline, Eric Molina and Deontay Wilder, he’s no novice.

A win over the popular Pole would stake his claim to challenge for a title again. With 33 from 38 not seeing the final bell it’s clear he has power in those hands and there is certainly an upset possibility.

However, it’s unlikely in my eyes he will win. His last big name fight was a loss against Deontay Wilder where he retired in the 8th. Since then he has notched up two more wins but against lower level opposition.

Kownacki’s experience over well known opponents is somewhat limited, with only Gerald Washington, Charles Martin, Iago Kiladze and Artur Szpilka being the recognisable names.

Kownacki is improving as he advances through fights but he laboured a little against Martin in a bout which could have gone either way. He is sometimes criticised as the physique isn’t always what some may expect of a professional athlete. But then after all, what do “they” the experts know? After all they said the same of Andy Ruiz Jr.

He needs to win and to win decisively here to make his name a target for the champions to look at.

Arreola who is now trained by Joe Goossen stated that he couldn’t wait to get into the ring

“I feel rejuvenated and ready to upset Adam Kownacki in front of his fans. He better be ready, because I’m going to bring it to him like he’s never seen before. This is going to be a war and I will leave with my hand raised.”

Kownacki acknowledged that “Fighting Chris Arreola will be another step on my journey to become a world champion,”

The 12 rounder headlines a three-bout ‘PBC on FOX’ event.

Also on the card, former WBC welterweight titleholder Andre Berto vs Miguel Cruz and light heavyweight Marcus Browne against former world titleholder Jean Pascal.