Los Angeles, CA (February 19, 2010) – Can the renowned Polish warrior withstand the devastating knockout power of “The Nightmare?”
We will all find out on Saturday night, April 24 when Goossen Tutor Promotions and Main Events in association with Ziggy Promotions — and sponsored by Corona and San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino — presents “RING OF FIRE” on HBO’s Boxing After Dark (11:15 PM ET/PT).
Emanating from the 10,000-seat state of the art Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, the scheduled 12-round main event – for the NABO and IBF Heavyweight International Championship — will feature local knockout sensation and top world contender Cristobal “The Nightmare” Arreola, from the nearby city of Riverside, versus former WBC Light Heavyweight, IBF and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight titleholder and current IBF Heavyweight International Champion, Tomasz “Goral” Adamek of Jersey City, NJ by way of Zywiec, Poland.
“Heavyweights, heavyweights, heavyweights! There is nothing better than to have two powerful, hungry, big men in the ring throwing bombs at each other, and in Arreola and Adamek, we have two fighters with over 50 knockouts combined. It’s not going the distance,” promoter Dan Goossen confidently stated.
The 28-year old Arreola (28-1, 25 KOs) rebounded from a hard-fought, defeat at the hands of WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko — in his first attempt to become the first boxer of Mexican descent to win a world heavyweight title back in September — by destroying 34-1 Brian Minto en route to a fourth-round TKO on December 5, 2009 in Atlantic City, New Jersey on HBO. The heavy-handed Arreola sent Minto to the deck twice in that fatal round.
In taking on the rugged Adamek, who has moved up to heavyweight after earning world titles in two separate weight classes, the crowd-pleasing Arreola will be making his second appearance at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. He was featured in the first-ever pro boxing show there back in November, 2008, when he stopped Travis Walker in three rounds to win the IBF Heavyweight Eliminator and, in the process, retain his WBC Continental Americas title and claim the NABF crown. Arreola plans to put Adamek’s chin to the supreme test.
“I’m excited about bringing a can’t miss ‘Fight of the Year” to Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario and Southern California and, especially, the Inland Empire,” Arreola exclaimed. “I am really looking forward to performing in front of the home crowd. I am happy to get back in the ring after a win against Minto and I’m just looking to continue my winning ways fighting a good, experienced fighter like Tomasz Adamek. “He’s a former world champion in two divisions and he’s moved up to heavyweight with two fights under his belt, Arreola — five years younger, and at 6-4, 250 will enter the ring with a two-and-a-half-inch, 30-plus pound advantage — continued. “I’m sure he will come prepared to beat me, but it’s not gonna happen. A win over Adamek would get me a step closer to fighting for a world title again, which I am looking forward to doing in 2010. But first, April 24th.”
Fresh off his February 6th victory against Jason “Big Six” Estrada, Tomasz Adamek (40-1, 27 KO’s) has become one of the hottest contenders in the heavyweight division. The 12-round fight showed Tomasz working the body and moving well to score a unanimous decision over the 2004 Olympian. In his first foray into the heavyweight division, on October 25, 2009, Adamek scored a 5th round TKO over Andrew Golota. He clearly dominated the legendary Polish world contender despite a 42- pound weight discrepancy, winning the IBF Heavyweight International Championship.
Adamek intends to show the world that nothing can stop him from reaching his goal of being heavyweight champion, even going to Arreola’s home turf.
“Fighting Chris Arreola will prove that nothing can stop me from reaching my goal to become heavyweight champion of the world. I’m always ready to deliver a great fight and I’m convinced that with Chris’ very entertaining, no holds barred style; on April 24 we will deliver a heavyweight classic,” said Adamek. “I’m not fighting in my backyard of Newark, but in Southern California, in Arreola’s country, and it will make me even stronger and more determined. I can’t wait for this fight to start.”
He won’t have to wait long.
Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events added, “Main Events and Ziggy Promotions are pleased to have this opportunity to introduce Tomasz to all of his fans on the West Coast. We invite all of them – especially those of Polish descent – to come out to the fight to support Tomasz and see with their own eyes what all the excitement is about.”
Tickets are $250, $100, $70, and $35 and are available at Ticketmaster.com or at the Citizens Business Bank Arena Box Office. For more information please visit CBBankArena.com.
Adamek Quotes:
“I will not run from Arreola. I will be easy to find in the ring, if he wants to find me. Why should I exchange punches with Chris, when I can make him miss, and then hit him? Whatever works for me on that day I will do. I think in the ring I will change tactics, I’ll see what’s gives me the greatest advantage during the fight.”
“It was an easy choice to fight Arreola, because we are similar in many ways – we want to fight and give people what they deserve. This is what my career is all about.”
“I’m tired of answering questions like why a “small” heavyweight like me wants to fight a big Chris Arreola. As we could see today, I’m the same height and maybe couple – ok more than couple – pounds lighter. But 220 is my natural weight – I checked before the press conference, I’m still relaxing after the Estrada fight, and I was still 220 lbs. So it’s natural, I don’t have to gain any extra pounds. I have three square meals day, like everybody”
Adamek about not fighting in front of fanatic Polish fans in Newark:
“Maybe they will be there! I’m pretty confident that it will be sizable Polish contingent, maybe 2000 – 3000, maybe even more? We travel well, there’s a big Polish colony in Arizona and California, and many of my fans from East Coast and Chicago will be there. Maybe it will be red and white all over Citizens Business Bank Arena stands! “
Adamek re: How different is this fight and if Arreola is the best fighter he even fought?
“I don’t know if this will be my toughest fight, I still think fighting 12 rounds with the broken nose against Paul Briggs is a number one on the “tough” list. How good is Arreola? I can answer this question after April 24. I know he will come to fight; I appreciate the effort he always brings to the fight. There’s not many like me and him anymore.”
Arreola Quotes:
“I’m excited about bringing a can’t miss ‘Fight of the Year” to Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario and Southern California and, especially, the Inland Empire,” Arreola exclaimed. “I am really looking forward to performing in front of the home crowd.
“I am happy to get back in the ring after a win against Minto and I’m just looking to continue my winning ways fighting a good, experienced fighter like Tomasz Adamek. He’s a former world champion in two divisions and he’s moved up to heavyweight with two fights under his belt.”
“I’m sure Adamek will come prepared to beat me, but it’s not gonna happen. A win over Adamek would get me a step closer to fighting for a world title again, which I am looking forward to doing in 2010. But first, April 24th.”
“I think I will have to be 240 pounds, 245 max, because I don’t believe he will want to exchange punches with me and it looks like I will have to chase him around the ring”.
About Citizens Business Bank Arena
Citizens Business Bank Arena, built and owned by the City of Ontario, operated by AEG Facilities, includes 9,500 fixed seats with additional “portable” seating risers to accommodate capacities of 11,089 for concerts, 9,736 for ice hockey and 10,832 for basketball. The 225,000 square foot venue features 36 luxury suites located on two levels and a continuous concourse hosting a variety of refreshment stands, merchandise kiosks, a VIP club and other fan amenities. Citizens Business Bank Arena hosts ice hockey and a variety of other sporting competitions, concerts, family shows, special events, conventions, school and community activities as well as private events. The Arena is home to Ontario Reign, an ECHL Premier AA Hockey Team. The venue is the biggest and most modern arena within the Inland Empire, an area with over 4.1 million people. It is located in the City of Ontario, on a 37-acre parcel located between Haven Avenue and Milliken Avenue, Fourth Street and the I-10 Freeway.
For more information and future updates please visit: CBBankArena.com