Chris Arreola is still perusing the ultimate achievement!
They say, “if once you don’t succeed, try, try, try again!” Clearly, this is a sentiment that Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (38-5-1, 33 KO’s) has taken to heart!
On Saturday August 3, Arreola will face the rising talent Adam “Babyface” Kownaski (19-0, 15 KO’s). The two will square off in the belly of the Brooklyn Barclay’s Center in a prizefight that will air live on FOX.
A LONG ROAD TRAVELED
As a very seasoned veteran in the game, Arreola understands that he is being brought in as a stepping stone for Kownacki’s career. If all goes as planned for his Polish foe, Babyface will get in some good rounds with a tough fighter and walk away with another win. Ideally, Kownacki would secure another thrilling knockout.
While the Nightmare is very aware of this would-be scripted game plan, he simply doesn’t care. In his mind and heart, he still has professional boxing goals to accomplish. Most notably, Arreola wants to become a world champion.
Over the course of his near sixteen year career, the Nightmare has had ample opportunities to do so. The Cali native has come up short in title fights against Bermane Stiverne, Tomasz Adamek, Vitali Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.
Putting these past setbacks out of his mind, Arreola believes he has enough remaining in the gas tank to give it one more shot. A win over the red-hot Kownacki might be just the ticket to one last opportunity.
Being the down-to-Earth, laid back character that he is, the Mexican brawler has never made any excuses for his failed attempts. Each and every time he acknowledged that his falling short was his own doing.
For the most part, he believes that his off season habits have poisoned his professional ambitions.
FOCUSED ON REDEMPTION
Throughout his career, the Mexican American has displayed fast hands, good power, a superb chin and an impressive in ring IQ. Despite having all these imposing tools, Arreola was never able to put them all together in a championship fight.
Now, however, Arreola is confident he has his out of competition life style under sufficient control.
“You know what? It’s not so much lose weight, it’s maintaining weight. Because before I used to weigh-in at like 240, 235. After the fight, I would balloon up to like 280, 290. That’s fucked up! That’s horrible!
“Now after I fight, I maintain weight. If I get over 250, I get my ass in the gym because I don’t want to be over 250. When it comes to training camp I want it to be a boxing training camp. I don’t want it to be a fat camp like it once was.”
At one point, he sought to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world. However, that was prior to Andy “Destroyer” Ruiz Jr overwhelming and stopping Anthony “AJ” Joshua earlier this year.
Therefore, while he comprehends he can’t be the first Mexican heavyweight, this hasn’t deterred his desire to become a champion at all. In fact, his desire to secure a belt is what still fuels the friendly pugilist.
“The thing is, my quest is a title. My quest is to be a world champion and obviously not the first [Mexican heavyweight champion], but you know, be a champion period.”
While the betting money is on Kownacki, in the end, we’ll all have to tune in to see if the Nightmare can ruin the Polish kid’s own championship endeavors. Regardless of who prevails, this bout has every indication that it’ll be one entertaining shootout for however long it lasts.
By: Bakari Simpson
