Vitali Klitschko Dominates Overmatched Chris Arreola

At 38, an age when most boxers are in decline (if not retired), WBC heavyweight champ Vitali Klitschko, looked better than ever. At 28, previously undefeated Chris Arreola demonstrated a solid chin and an undeniable desire to win but little else to back up Larry Merchant's label as the "most promising American heavyweight since Riddick Bowe".

Klitschko, fighting with his hands by his sides, countered Arreola's aggressive style with clean, effective shots throughout the bout. Unlike many recent opponents of both Vitali and brother Wladimir Klitschko, Arreola never quit and, despite being bloodied and battered, was never in any real danger of being knocked down. Nevertheless, after ten one-sided rounds, Arreola’s trainer Henry Ramirez had seen enough and mercifully instructed referee Jon Schorle to stop the fight.

Scoring: All three judges had Klitschko well ahead at the time of the stoppage: 100-89 and 99-91 twice.

Punch Stats: Total Punches: Klitschko - 301 of 802 (38%), Arreola - 86 of 331 (26%); Total Power Punches: Klitschko - 151 of 283 (53%), Arreola - 24 of 107 (22%).

Next up for Klitschko may be a December date with 30-year-old Kevin Johnson (22-0-1), another "promising American heavyweight" whose lack of KO power will make him an even longer shot to upset Klitschko than Arreola. As for Arreola, his youth, personality and fan-friendly style (not to mention the lack of other quality heavyweights) give him a shot at being a heavyweight champ at some point in the future ... when both Klitschkos are retired and no longer dominating the division with relative ease.