Adam Kownacki vs. Chris Arreola: Media call highlights

Adam Kownacki and Chris Arreola do battle in a heavyweight bout on Aug. 3 on FOX. Before the fight, they addressed the media about their upcoming clash.

Adam Kownacki (19-0, 15 KOs) is a fast-rising heavyweight contender, but he has to get by hardened veteran Chris Arreola (38-5-1, 33 KOs) if he wants to keep his title dreams alive. They talked to the media on Tuesday, July 30, about their expectations for their contest.

Kownacki is rated as the 11th best heavyweight in the world by Boxrec.com. He possesses an impressive 79 percent knockout rating and is the favorite against the aging, but experienced, Arreola.

Arreola was a title contender for several years but lost all of his three attempts at a world title. He’s riding a two-fight winning streak and hopes to extend the life of his career by upsetting Kownacking who is eight years his junior. Arreola is 38 years old.

Here are some of the highlights of their media call.

Chris Arreola’s comments to the media:

Question:  Chris, when you called Joe Goossen three months ago, you knew it’s going to be a hard training camp. Why Joe Goossen and what happened during those three months?

Arreola: Well, the reason I went with Joe Goossen is first I’ve known Joe for many years. I’ve always been a fan of Joe ever since the Castillo – Corrales fight. And he’s part of the family. Dan Goossen was my old promoter, rest in peace. I wanted to keep it in the family. I like the way he works. I like that he’s an old school — very old school — kind of a coach. He’s very methodical and he makes sure that he’s there every minute of training camp.

Q: I had the pleasure to speak with Joe Goossen last night, and he said he doesn’t believe the fight goes past seven rounds. Chris, your opinion?

I honestly agree on that. And it’s not saying anything negative against Kownacki because it could go either way. He can knock me out like I can knock him out. The thing is that we both have extensive amateur experience. We both know how to fight. We both just need a little window of opportunity to knock someone out. That’s all we need because we have the experience and we have the power. That’s the reason why Joe will say that because we’re both the fighters that – exciting fighters that are going to put it on the line.

Q: What are some of the new things that maybe you paid attention to with Joe that you didn’t necessarily focus on in the past?

One of the main things that Joe does is he is a back to basics trainer. He makes sure that you’re tall and jab right. So I think that my punches are going to come out of the pocket a lot smoother and he’s taught me a lot of new defensive movements. The main thing is doing this and making everything just flow.

Q: You debuted as a professional in 2003. It’s 2019 now and you’re 38 years old. How would you say your perspective towards boxing has changed from then to now?

Well, my perspective from boxing, the main thing I have changed is the work ethic, the way you work. You really have to work, because boxing is my job, so I have to work like it’s my job. I have to treat my body right, like it’s a machine, because it is a machine. The main thing now, especially because I’m older, is paying attention to my body and working hard and not beating myself up where I ain’t going to have nothing left tomorrow.

Adam Kownacki’s comments to the media:

Questions: You mentioned wanting to beat Chris quicker than when Deontay Wilder did a couple of years ago. If you do beat him in quick fashion, do you think that alone will be enough to get that world title opportunity? Or do you feel like maybe there’s a still a little more before you can fully convince the titleholder that’s heavyweight before getting that shot?

Kownacki: I think so. We spoke about his fight against McCline earlier today. So maybe that’s what I’ll do to Chris. I know it took Wilder seven or eight rounds. So if I do it in half the time, I’ll be happy. Especially with somebody tough like Chris Arreola.

Q: Adam, you and Chris, are very physically similar to each other same height, same reach. What do you feel that you do that separates the two of you?

It’s definitely very similar styles. Obviously, we fight very similar. We throw a lot of punches, we both come forward. So I guess it’s going to be a more experienced lion fighting a younger, hungry lion. You’re going to see whose lands on top. Me and Chris are so similar, like I said, so we have similar aspects from our height, our reach, the way we fight, but it’s going to be the experience could stopping the youth.

Q: Adam, how much more dangerous does that make Chris being that he’s toward the end of his career and he does view this as his last opportunity to kind of get where he wants to go?

A lot. I think that a desperate man is a dangerous man and I think he’s very desperate to get in line for a title shot. He had two knockout wins in a row so I’m prepared for the best Chris Arreola. He looks like he’s in great shape. I’ve just got to make sure I have a better game plan and that I’m in better shape, which I know I’ve put in a lot of hard work for.

The chances are good that Kownacki vs. Arreola will produce a knockout ending. You can view the fight on FOX at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 3. You can also stream the bout through the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com.