WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder needed to rustle up an opponent at short-notice. Chris Arreola may be a former world title challenger and is often in entertaining fights but is still a controversial choice for their July 16 clash in Birmingham, Alabama. The result of his last bout was changed to a no decision after Arreola tested positive for marijuana, a recreational drug.
โLet me just get this straight. Itโs a failed marijuana test. Whatever you want to say, whatever you want to call it, if you want say that marijuana is a PED then people are f****** idiots,โ Arreola declared. โYou want to take my win away over that, fine, whatever, take my win. I donโt care.โ
Wilder explained why this challenger was the man for the job. โNo matter what people say, the guy comes to fight,โ Deontay said. โAfter he got beat, he didnโt make excuses. We know that heโs going to make a great fight, he was the perfect person for this situation that we had and my people deserve a great fight, the fans deserve a great fightโฆ Iโm looking forward to it.โ
Chris Arreola did concede, โDo I deserve this title shot? No, I donโt think I do. But since I donโt deserve it, just like Deontay said, everything that I didnโt do in the past Iโm doing, everything that I was supposed to do, Iโm now doing. So Iโm doing everything I possibly can to win this fight. Everything. Iโve got to leave everything in the ring, Iโve got to leave everything out there. My back is against the wall, this is my last title shot and I have to come, I have to bring it, I have to make this a dog fight, plain and simple.โ
It wonโt be easy for Arreola. In March he broke his ankle, he has acquired a reputation for being a far from diligent trainer. But he insisted, โIโm coming for the win, Iโm not just coming to show up, Iโm not coming just to get paid. Thatโs not me. Iโm not that guy that comes to get paid. Iโm coming for that title. Iโm coming for that win. I donโt even know Iโm getting paid for this fight. It wasnโt even told to me. I donโt care. Moneyโs not the part. My part is I want to win this fight. Thatโs the godโs honest truth.โ