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.”

Chris Arreola/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

LOS ANGELES – Chris Arreola of Riverside would love to become the first fighter of Mexican descent to win a major heavyweight world title. He’s already had two bites at the apple, but came up short in TKO losses to Vitali Klitschko in 2009 and Bermane Stiverne in 2014.

He’s going to get one more shot when he challenges undefeated knockout artist Deontay Wilder for his title July 16 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. (on Fox).

“It is now or never,” Arreola told this newspaper before Tuesday’s news conference at the Conga Room formally announcing the bout. “Title shots don’t come that often. This is my third time, man. Third time’s the charm, man. I’ve gotta make this happen.”

A victory – especially considering Arreola will be a heavy underdog – would mean everything to Arreola.

“The main thing is history. That’s it,” he said. “I’m going to be remembered.”

Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., won the title with a wide unanimous decision over Stiverne in January 2015. Wilder has defended his belt three times and was supposed to make his fourth defense against Alexander Povetkin of Russia on May 21.

However, Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and that fight was scrapped. It was time to look for another opponent, and Wilder believes Arreola was the right choice for a fight that was made June 13, just more than a month before it will be contested.

“We know that Chris comes to fight,” said Wilder, who at 6-foot-7 is some four inches taller than Arreola. “We know that whether he’s in shape or out of shape, he’s going to give a hundred percent. And he’s going to sell tickets because of the toughness.”

Wilder said that to him, all of Arreola’s fights have been exciting.

“That’s what we need,” Wilder said. “And when you’ve got two guys that are hard-hitters that fight with their heart, and they try to get you out of there as soon as possible, what a great fight it makes for short notice. It’s going to be crazy, so I definitely think we picked the right person for this.”

Arreola has fought three journeymen since losing to Stiverne via 6th-round TKO at USC’s Galen Center in May 2014. He beat Curtis Harper over eight rounds and had a draw with Fred Kassi. Arreola then won a split-decision over Travis Kauffman this past December in San Antonio, only to have that changed to a no-decision when Arreola tested positive for marijuana.

This is hardly awe-inspiring stuff, but Wilder scoffed at the notion Arreola is not worthy of this chance.

“People said Arreola doesn’t deserve the shot, but who are they to say things about a man who every time he gets in the ring, fights with his heart?” Wilder said.

Arreola has taken a lot of heat over the years. Particularly, he’s been hammered about coming into fights out of shape. Against Kauffman, he weighed 236 1/2 pounds, his lowest since 2011.

But his effort in training and subsequent victory were wasted with the positive test. He was asked how fans can be sure he won’t have another dirty test that would disallow what would be a shocking victory over Wilder.

“Because (trainer) Henry (Ramirez) doesn’t let me out of his sight, you know what I mean?” Arreola said. “But in all honesty, man, I do have to take this serious and I have taken this serious.”

Arreola, 35, is 36-4-1 with 31 knockouts. Wilder, 30, is 36-0 with 35 knockouts.