Arreola Blasts Out Mitchell In Round One

It was no secret that Seth Mitchell has chin issues. But Chris Arreola exposed that in rude fashion, for those who didn’t believe, who thought maybe he could shore up his defensive holes. Arreola, who pre-fight said that Mitchell was a step down for him, sent Mitchell to the mat, and then finished him off in round one in the main event at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA on Saturday night.

There will be no shortage of those on the sidelines who think that Mitchell, bless him for his heart, just doesn’t have the chin to deal with this sport, and that he might be better suited to move on. It’s for him to say, but I’m one who thinks, for his own good, that should be considered.

The Californian Arreola (34-3 with 1 ND, 30 KOs entering; age 32) was 242 pounds, while the ex Michigan State footballer Mitchell (26-1-1 entering; age 31; from Maryland) was also 242 pounds.

Arreola after to Jim Gray thanked God, and then himself, for putting the work in. He said he’s a dummy who shoots himself in the leg often, but this time, he trained hard. Mitchell’s power suprised him, he said. Arreola said he wanted a rematch with Bermane Stiverne, for the title that Vitali Klitschko should vacate, if he doesn’t want to fight on. Stiverne, on Twitter, said he’d beat Arreola again, in a rematch.

Mitchell thanked God, and then said he got caught. The loser said his heart hurts, and said he will “go back to the drawing board.” He said he was bummed at the stoppage but would have to look at the tape. He didn’t blame the ref, who he said was doing his job.

Arreola was coming off a loss, to Stiverne, who broke his nose, to the point he needed surgery.

In the first, Mitchell went down, after being hurt. Not a knockdown, though, as he was holding on and Arreola threw him down. He went down, for real, off clubbing rights, and was up, with 53 seconds left. Arreola hopped on him, and the ref saw enough, and stepped in, deeming the ex footballer unable to defend himself adequately. Good call, Mitchell was sliding to his right, head dropped, in a world of hurt. The time of the ending was 2:26.

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya said on Twitter after he’d like to match Deontay Wilder against Arreola. Wilder’s manager Jay Deas told me that he’s into that match being made.

Check back for Davis Avila’s ringside report. Follow Woods on Twitter.