to pull a calf and his experience and poise?will be a huge loss

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Deontay Wilder sported a three-piece suit, bow tie and shades to the pre-fight news conference. Chris Arreola wore T-shirt, jean shorts and a chip on his shoulder.The contrast in styles also emphasized their disparate situations. Wilder is a big favorite going into the fourth defense of his WBC heavyweight title Saturday night and third in his home state while Arreola is hoping to cash in on an unexpected opportunity. Its a fight that wasnt supposed to happen.Wilders scheduled fight in Russia with mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin fell through in May when Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. Instead, Wilder (36-0, 35 knockouts) was left to file a breach of contract suit seeking at least $5 million and to find another opponent on relatively short notice.We needed a guy that was going to come and fight, he said. We needed a guy that wasnt going to come and make excuses. He may still make excuses at the end talking about weight. But we mainly needed a guy that was going to come and give the people of Alabama a show, and worldwide.Theres no other guy that we could have had that was going to give me the fight that I was looking for out of a fighter than Chris Arreola. Thats why we chose him.Wilder said he needed a quick fight after being down following cancellation of the Povetkin fight. This one is part of the Premier Boxing Champions series.I cant wait because Ive been wanting to pound something, he said. Ive been wanting to pound something since May. I got teased a little bit .I dont like to be teased. I got teased a little bit and now its time.Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) is trying to profit from Vegas odds that put Wilder in the neighborhood of a 30-1 favorite. In previous title shots, he lost to Vitali Klitschko and Bermane Stiverne, who Wilder beat to claim a piece of the heavyweight title in January 2015.I told my wife before she got here to make sure she gave $1,000 to one of my cousins to go put at least $1,000 on myself, Arreola said. Thats $30,000. Ill take that all day every day.To me, thats very disrespectful. Extremely disrespectful. Those are almost Buster Davis odds.Douglas was a huge underdog when he knocked out previously unbeaten Mike Tyson in 1990.The 6-foot-7 Wilder has knocked out every opponent except Stiverne, but his three title defenses have all gone at least into the ninth. Wilder is coming off a ninth-round knockout of Artur Szpilka in January.The 6-3 Arreola hasnt fought since December, when he won a split decision over Travis Kauffman. It was declared a no contest because Arreola tested positive for marijuana.Arreola freely acknowledges he hasnt earned this title shot, but is hoping to catch Wilder looking ahead to possible bouts with unbeaten Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury, who is awaiting a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko. Promoter Lou DiBella calls Arreola a scary man because he has nothing to lose. Arreola is seeking to become the first fighter of Mexican heritage to win a piece of the heavyweight championship.Im a sleeping giant because everybodys overlooking me, Arreola said. Wilder was overlooking me. Wilders already thinking about his next fight. Hes talking about fighting the IBF champion (Joshua). Hes talking about fighting Tyson Fury. Im first. Youve got to remember, Im first. Im here. Im a heavyweight to reckon with.The co-main event features welterweights Sammy Vasquez (21-0, 15 KOs) against 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (17-1, 8 KOs) of the Dominican Republic. Bart Starr Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Jaire Alexander Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.com/Paul-hornung-packers-jersey/ . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Dave Robinson Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Custom Green Bay Packers Jerseys . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Talk about the ultimate Sliding Doors moment.Isaac Smiths miss after the siren?against Geelong two weekends ago has?shaped the entire finals series - if he kicked straight, the Hawks wouldve enjoyed a week off in preparation for a preliminary final and from there, theyre in the box seat to at least make it to the grand final.?The four-thorn dream would still be alive and well.But after being dominated by a more manic and hungry Bulldogs outfit in Friday nights?semifinal, Hawthorn have been bundled out of the finals at the earliest stage in four years.I believe the loss doesnt signal the?end of an era, but it was the end of a golden run for the Hawks. Theyve still got so much talent,?they need to just add a bit of pace through the midfield and make a few minor changes and theyll be right up there again.The Bulldogs though, are the?feelgood?story of September.?Theyve beaten the two grand finalists from last year and I?believe?theyre?a good chance to?knock over?the Giants. They need to realise theyre only four hours of football away from notching the clubs second premiership - if they attack the Giants with the same full-ground ferocity as they did the Hawks, theyll be in it right up to their eyeballs.The Swans are still alive after a brutal?semifinal?against an outclassed Adelaide outfit at the SCG. The Crows werent able to apply the?required?pressure?over four quarters, and the hardened Swans took full advantage.?Sydneys midfield was far too powerful for the visitors, and Lance Franklin played closer to goal and appeared dangerous every time he touched the footy. The downside were the injuries to Gary Rohan and?Jarrad?McVeigh, who are both extremely doubtful for the preliminary final.The big question now were down to four teams is, does a second week off in three weeks help or hinder Geelong and GWS?They will certainly be refreshed and rested, but could a lack of?gametime?in recent weeks?cause them grief?Well find out come Saturday night.HEROESAlastair Clarkson:?The loss to the Bulldogs must have been heartbreaking to everyone associated with the Hawks, but?Clarkson was all class after the game?in seeking out his counterpart Luke Beveridge in the Dogs rooms and offering his hearty congratulations. Clarko?could have?been excused for keeping?his head down and commiserating?with his group, but he chose to wish Beveridge and the Dogs well?for the rest of the finals. It was a real act of class and shows the other side of Clarkson - we all know he can be a bit of a firebrand but it shows his human side.Josh Kennedy:?This?human battering ram?is building an incredible reputation?as?an A-grade finals performer.?Hes won 41 contested possessions in the past two weeks and that was despite copping that high hit from Steve Johnson in the qualifying final.?His game is made for finals, which often require more basic, tough footy, and thats something Kennedy has in spades. Against the Crows?he controlled the stoppages, dominated contested footy, tackled ferociously and executed under pressure.?He has an?incredible?ability to pull a ball from the fire, stay composed and release a teammate into space.?The?crazy thing about?Kennedy, being such?a?big-bodied midfielder?as he is,?he barely does any leg weights or heavy lifting in the gym.dddddddddddd Hes just one of those blokes who is naturally strong, with square shoulders.?He certainly uses it to his advantage.Liam?Picken:?His?past two weeks have been enormous - hes taken some huge contested marks around the ground and his toughness, mixed with a real energy and zest, has added so much for the Bulldogs.?He obviously squeezes every ounce of talent out of his body and hes a heart-and-soul type player who seems to energise his teammates.?Against the Hawks, he?collected 24 touches (13 contested), four clearances, four inside 50s, eight marks and booted three goals. Hes transformed himself from a dour stopper to a genuine weapon for the Bulldogs in recent years.?VILLAINSAdelaide: In all the preview meetings leading into the do-or-die semifinal, the emphasis from Don Pyke would have been to expect a response from Sydney after they had been bullied by GWS. The start?of a match?is always crucial, but the Crows were jumped in the first term at the SCG and were unable to match their opponents intensity, conceding seven goals in the first quarter.?After?such a dire start, they needed their leaders to respond but no one was able to step up until it was too late.?Adelaide had few winners through the midfield, while?the much-lauded forward line?of Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins found desperately wanting.? ?The Football Gods:?There are always hard-luck stories at this time of year, and theres no exception in 2016. The extent of the injuries to? McVeigh and Rohan wont be known until later this week, but if they miss the preliminary final against Geelong - and possibly the big dance should the Swans win through - it will be a cruel blow for those two men. Rohan has endured so many injury setbacks since being drafted at pick No. 6 in 2009, and hell be absolutely shattered to miss out again should his knee cut him down at such an important time of the season. McVeigh, the Swans co-captain, appeared to pull a calf and his experience and poise?will be a huge loss if he is grounded. Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy must have mixed feelings after the weekend - he would have so much pride for his teams efforts in the past fortnight, but it must also be a double-edged sword, knowing he wont be able to play a part as the Dogs hunt a rare piece of silverware. ?The AFLs?fixturing?department:?The AFLs decision to want to avoid a?preliminary final?at ANZ Stadium has merit- even if they drew 35,000 or 40,000?there, it feels empty and then can lack true atmosphere. But its disgraceful that so many supporters of a team that hasnt been in a grand final since 1961 will miss out on seeing?the Bulldogs?play in a?prelim. They would be so hungry for success but thousands will miss out on attending the clash against GWS on Saturday.?The Giants only have a membership of around 16,000 while the Bulldogs have about 40,000, the AFL should ensure as close to half the capacity of the stadium should go to Dogs fans.?We all know thats unlikely to happen, though. ' ' '