Ringside at Staples Center for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship pitting Vitali Klitschko against Cris Arreola. The crowd of 14,556 is arriving slowly, but several empty seats remain, far more than when Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito fought here in January.
Surprisingly, actor Sylvester Stallone is sitting next to former California State Athletic Commission chairman Timothy Noonan, who resigned Thursday amid an ethics probe launched after The Times revealed that Noonan had distributed free fight passes to friends, including Stallone. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to whom Noonan submitted his resignation, sits next to the pair as boos cascade from the rafters.
Even though the unbeaten Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs) is a heavy 6-to-1 underdog in Las Vegas, the talk among boxing veterans backstage is that the younger Riverside product can shock the boxing world here.
The logic that still reigns before the opening bell is that the wiser Klitschko will systematically dissect Arreola's pledge to come out aggressively and end this bout early. Still, history is on most people's minds. Arreola is only the second fighter of Mexican ancestry to have a heavyweight title shot, after Mandy Ramos lost to Joe Frazier in 1968.
Round 1
What happened: With Stallone, Kobe Bryant, Mike Tyson and Leonardo DiCaprio among the announced celebs, Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs), defending his WBC heavyweight belt and appearing at Staples Center for a third time, strides toward the ring to boos and AC/DC's "Hells Bells."
Arreola (27-1, 24 KOs) has ascended to this title shot without a major name on his resume, but his punching power, toughness and age advantage might neutralize Klitschko's experience. That's what he's hoping, anyway, as he does his ring walk to Jay-Z's "Run This Town."
Klitschko paws with a long jab. Arreola looks for an opening. Arreola tries to brawl. Klitschko backs away. Great reach by the champion. Big jab to head by Klitschko. Big right by Klitschko. Arreola is going to have a tough time finding an opening. He's too far away. Arreola throws three jabs.
Pugmire's take: The challenger has come a long way from the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, where I watched him fight a few years ago.
The judges: Anek Hongtongkam, Klitschko 10-9; Guido Cavalieri, Klitschko 10-9; Ken Morita, Klitschko 10-9.
Round 2
