Chris Arreola, left, reacts after absorbing a right cross from heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on Saturday/AP photo by Brynn Anderson

Chris Arreola isn’t the most talented heavyweight contender we’ve ever seen, but few have graced the ring with more courage.

Arreola on Saturday challenged Deontay Wilder for his heavyweight world title at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. Arreola was decked in the fourth round and rocked again  after getting to his feet. He somehow made it out of the round before eventually being stopped after eight rounds.

He explained how he did it.

“Let’s be honest, man,” Arreola said afterward. “It takes a real fighter to be in the ring with someone like him. He’s a big man. We’re in the heavyweight division, man, this is the hurt business. You have to know how to deal with adversity. I get punched, I’m going to get back up.”

Arreola (36-5-1, 31 KOs), of Riverside, failed for the third time to become the first fighter of Mexican descent to win a major world title at heavyweight. It’s doubtful he’ll get a fourth opportunity, as the 35-year-old was thoroughly dominated by Wilder.

Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) broke his right hand and sustained a right biceps injury as well in the fight, otherwise he might have been able to get Arreola out of there sooner.

“It was early – the third or the fourth round,” Wilder said. “It was from an (awkward) punch. I hurt the hand first, and then the biceps.”

Chris Arreola/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

Chris Arreola at 6-foot-3 is four inches shorter than Deontay Wilder. But Arreola on Friday weighed in 20 pounds heavier than Wilder for their heavyweight title fight Saturday from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. (on Fox).

Arreola tipped the scales at 246.2 pounds with the 6-7 Wilder coming in at 226.2.

Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is 36-0 with 35 knockouts. He’ll be looking to make the fourth successful defend of his title. Arreola, of Riverside, is 36-4-1 with 31 knockouts. He will be trying for the third time to become the first fighter of Mexican descent to win a major heavyweight championship.

Deontay Wilder/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

Chris Arreola knows he doesn’t really deserve the title shot he’s going to have Saturday when he challenges Deontay Wilder for his heavyweight world title at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. (on Fox). Arreola has admitted as much. Based on Arreola’s recent work – he’s 1-0-1 with a no-decision in his past three bouts – Wilder knows that, too.

What Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) seems to care about more than anything, however, is what Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) will bring to the fight – backbone.

Chris Arreola/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

Chris Arreola had one chance to beat Vitali Klitschko when the two tangled for Klitschko’s heavyweight world title in September 2009 at Staples Center – get inside on the 6-foot-7 Klitschko. Arreola couldn’t, and he was stopped after 10 rounds.

Arreola this Saturday is challenging another champion standing 6-7 – Deontay Wilder. They will square off at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. (on Fox).

Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs), who stands 6-3, was asked during a recent conference call if he learned anything fighting Klitschko that could help him against Wilder.

“The main thing is I got to move my head, man,” said Arreola, of Riverside. “Vitali Klitschko clobbered me with jabs left and right. I believe he threw the most punches he had thrown in his career against me, and that’s because I just kept coming with the pressure.

“And the thing about it, I’ve just got to be a lot smarter and I’ve got to be more athletic about it because Deontay is a more athletic fighter than Klitschko is, a lot more athletic. And he moves a whole lot better around the ring.”

Arreola said he must keep Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) on his heels.

“And that’s going to be a big task in itself,” Arreola said. “And just come hard behind the jab and not get caught with that dangerous right hand he has.”