- Chris Arreola
-
Chris Arreola Statistics Real name Cristobal Arreola Nickname(s) Nightmare Height 6 ft 2 in (193 cm) Reach 77 in (196 cm) Nationality American Born March 5, 1981
Los Angeles, CaliforniaStance Orthodox Boxing record Total fights 36 Wins 34 Wins by KO 29 Losses 2 Draws 0 No contests 0 Cristobal Arreola (born March 5, 1981) is a Mexican-American professional Heavyweight boxer. Arreola is the former NABF, WBC Continental Americas, and current WBC FECOMBOX Heavyweight Champion.[1] Chris is promoted by Goossen Tutor and trained by Henry Ramírez.[2]
Contents
Early life
Arreola was born in Los Angeles, California. Chris met Legendary Boxing Champion Julio César Chávez a couple of times when he was a kid. Chris said "I had a chance to go to his house in Culiacán, Mexico because my father was from near there and my aunt lived in Culiacan. I used to go and watch him train."[3]
Amateur career
Arreola grew up in East LA; his father was a boxer and started him boxing at the age of eight with trainer Hector Rodríguez. At 16, he had "about 200 amateur bouts" before losing interest and quitting. In 2001 at 20 he got back into boxing and after only three months of training managed to win the National Golden Gloves at the Light Heavyweight division, to win Chris beat Dallas Vargas who had about 300 amateur fights at the time.[4]
After another hiatus from boxing, this time for two years, he tried to come back for the 2003 Golden Gloves but arrived shortly after the check-in deadline prompting him to turn pro.[5]
Professional career
In 2003, Goossen-Tutor promoted the 6-foot-2 fighter and turned him pro at heavyweight with little fanfare. Despite his amateur success, Arreola carried a lackadaisical attitude into the pro ranks.
Looking back he says: "I really didn't know if boxing was going to be my career. I wasn't sure about turning pro and once I did, I just took it one fight at a time. But then I starting knocking guys out and I gradually started thinking, 'Hey, maybe I can make some money doing this'."
In 2005 he fought Domonic Jenkins who despite his record of only 6-3 held a win over Malcolm Tann (and later KOd amateur stars Victor Bisbal and Carlos Barnett). After trailing for six rounds he turned the fight around and won by KO.
In 2006 he stopped durable veteran Sedreck Fields, Cuban southpaw Damian Norris (who later defeated the unbeaten Roderick Willis) and in a match of unbeaten Californian prospects Damian Wills (coming in at 22-0-0-0).
In 2007 he KOd former amateur star Zakeem Graham (11-0). He was scheduled to fight undefeated Olympian Devin Vargas, brother of his amateur foe Dallas Vargas, but knocked out late sub Malcolm Tann when Vargas got injured in training, in May 2007 on ShoBox. He KO'd Thomas Hayes (record 27-0-0-0) in September 2007, in round 1.
On June 21, 2008, Arreola faced fellow undefeated prospect Chazz Witherspoon (23-0) and defeated him via disqualifaction. In the third round, Arreola landed a barrage of punches that was capped off by a chopping right that sent Witherspoon to the canvas. The bell rang early in the count, prompting Witherspoon's corner to begin entering the ring. This was ruled by the referee to be a disqualification since the round is not technically over until the count is over. But many, including HBO commentator Max Kellerman, believed that the fight would have been stopped and ruled a TKO regardless.
On November 29, 2008, Arreola faced Travis Walker. During the 1st round Arreola was overwhelmed by Walker's power and was outboxed. Arreola came back late in the 2nd round after nearly being knocked down to his knees; Arreola knocked Walker down twice afterwards, eventually knocking Walker out early in the 3rd round improving Arreola's record to 26-0.
Arreola is currently ranked in the top 10 by all four major governing bodies.[6]
His coach Henry Ramirez is only 28 years old. "I had other trainers but they didn't fit my style. I'm a banger... Henry was always giving guys confidence and I liked that." said Arreola of his trainer.
Arreola defeated the previously retired heavyweight veteran Jameel McCline (40-8 23 KO's) on April 11, 2009, with a knockout at 2:01 of the 4th round. Arreola put McCline down with a combination consisting of an uppercut and right cross, and McCline was out cold. The fight was shown on the undercard of the Paul Williams vs Ronald "Winky" Wright bout on HBO Championship Boxing.
WBC Heavyweight Championship
After his win Arreola was the number one contender to challenge Vitali Klitschko for his WBC Heavyweight title belt.[7] Arreola was happy with his draw when it was announced they would fight in Arreola's home town.[8] The match took place on September 26, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It was broadcast on HBO. Klitschko was a heavy favorite in the days leading up to the fight. The fight had Klitschko dominating Arreola with pawing jabs, hard straight rights and body shots which prevented Arreola from closing the gap. Arreola's corner and the referee stopped the fight before the start of the 11th giving Klitschko a 10th round RTD (TKO) victory. The final scorecards read, 99-91, 99-91, and 100-89, all for Klitschko.[9]
Soon after his first career loss, Arreola fought Brian Minto as an undercard for the Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martínez fight. Chris landed well with his straight right hand and eventually floored Minto in the 4th round, Minto got up at 8 and continued to get hit with right hands before being dropped again. The referee stopped fight when Minto rose at 9 and appeared to be in no condition to proceed with the fight.[10]
Arreola lost his next fight, to former two-division world champion Tomasz Adamek by majority decision on 24 April 2010. Arreola was again looking out of shape for a professional boxer at the time of this fight.[11]
Arreola in his next fight defeated Manuel Quezada in Ontario, California by a 12 round unanimous decision. Quezada was down three times in the fight. Twice in the 9th round and once in the 12th. The scores (117-108) and two judges had it (118-107). Before the fight Arreola had an interview on ESPN saying that his last two defeats were because he did not train well (as well as skipping days) and stepped into the training camp weighing nearly 300 pounds. He said that he now knew how to prepare for a fight, and realizes he needs to take the training camp seriously. He came in at an 256 pounds (He fought the best at 230-240, and lost his previous two weighing 250+ pounds) and fought sluggishly against a tough opponent. At the end of the fight Chris Arreola said he gave himself a C- for overall performance.[12]
After his knockout over American Joey Abell on ESPN,[13] Arreola tookout title contender Nagy Aguilera in the third round. This bout was televised on Showtime's Andre Ward vs. Arthur Abraham undercard.[14] Thirteen days after the fight with Aguilera, Cristobal knocked out tough veteran Kendrick Releford in the seventh round, as the main-event on ESPN.[15][16] He then won by a 10 round. unanimous decision against Friday Ahunanya on July 9.[17]
Professional record
33 Wins (28 knockouts), 2 Losses, 0 Draw[18] Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes Win 34-2 Raphael Butler TKO 3 (0:55) November 5, 2011 Domo De La Feria, Leon, Guanajuato chance to contest the WBC Heavyweight title Win 33-2 Friday Ahunanya UD 10 (10) July 9, 2011 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey Win 32-2 Kendrick Releford TKO 7 (10), 2:43 May 27, 2011 Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada Win 31-2 Nagy Aguilera TKO 3 (10), 1:58 May 14, 2011 Home Depot Center, Carson, California Win 30-2 Joey Abell TKO 1 (10) January 28, 2011 Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California Win 29-2 Manuel Quezada UD 12(12) August 13, 2010 Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California Won the WBC FECOMBOX Heavyweight title. Loss 28-2 Tomasz Adamek MD 12(12) April 24, 2010 Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California For the IBF International Heavyweight Title Win 28-1 Brian Minto TKO 4 (2:40) December 5, 2009 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey Loss 27-1 Vitali Klitschko TKO 10 (3:00) September 26, 2009 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California For the WBC Heavyweight title Win 27-0 Jameel McCline KO 4 (2:01) April 11, 2009 Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada Win 26-0 Travis Walker KO 3 (0:13) November 29, 2008 Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California NABF and WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight titles. Win 25-0 Israel Garcia KO 3 (1:11) September 25, 2008 Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, California Retained his WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title Win 24-0 Chazz Witherspoon DQ 3 (3:00) June 21, 2008 FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee Retained his WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title Win 23-0 Cliff Couser KO 1 (1:22) February 9, 2008 Pechanga Resort, Temecula, California Win 22-0 Thomas Hayes KO 3 (1:45) September 21, 2007 Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California Won the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title Win 21-0 Derek Berry KO 1 (0:57) July 14, 2007 The Home Depot Center, Carson, California Win 20-0 Malcolm Tann TKO 8 (1:07) May 4, 2007 Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada Win 19-0 Zakeem Graham TKO 3 (2:42) February 9, 2007 Suffolk Community College, Selden, New York Win 18-0 Damian Wills TKO 7 (2:17) November 4, 2006 Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada Win 17-0 Damian Norris TKO 4 (2:59) August 19, 2006 Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada Win 16-0 Sedreck Fields KO 7 (1:41) May 25, 2006 Pechanga Resort, Temecula, California Win 15-0 Manuel Ossie KO 1 (1:33) April 12, 2006 Tachi Palace Hotel, Lemoore, California Win 14-0 Curtis Taylor KO 1 (2:28) March 3, 2006 Pechanga Resort, Temecula, California Win 13-0 Domonic Jenkins TKO 5 (2:38) October 21, 2005 Pechanga Resort, Temecula, California Win 12-0 Andrew Greeley UD 6(6) September 23, 2005 USC Lyon Center, Los Angeles, California Win 11-0 Kenny Lemos TKO 4 (1:49) May 5, 2005 Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs, California Win 10-0 Samuel Rodríguez TKO 4 (1:26) February 17, 2005 Avalon Hollywood, Hollywood, California Win 9-0 David Cleage DQ 3 (4) January 21, 2005 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut Win 8-0 Benjamin García TKO 1 (0:21) December 9, 2004 Pechanga Resort, Temecula, California Win 7-0 Ed Mosley TKO 1 (0:59) August 20, 2004 Omega International, Corona, California Win 6-0 David Johnson TKO 1 (0:48) April 26, 2004 Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California Win 5-0 Jason Condon KO 1 (2:33) March 22, 2004 Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California Win 4-0 Semisi Bloomfield TKO 1 (2:40) February 16, 2003 Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California Win 3-0 David Johnson KO 2 (1:21) August 10, 2003 Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California Win 2-0 Jeremiah Constant TKO 1 (0:27) October 13, 2003 Edgewater Hotel & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada Win 1-0 Roosevelt Parker TKO 2 (1:25) September 5, 2003 Edgewater Hotel & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada References
- ^ http://www.maxboxing.com/news/max-boxing-news/chris-arreola-opens-2011-with-a-bang-and-a-kiss
- ^ http://www.myboxingfans.com/2011/05/in-the-gym-with-chris-arreola/
- ^ http://www.goossentutor.com/pages/athelets/chris_arreola.html
- ^ http://www.maxboxing.com/news/max-boxing-news/chris-arreola-a-nightmares-dream-reborn
- ^ http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Benz/DHBenz092409.htm
- ^ ESPN - Nightmare dreams of becoming first Mexican heavyweight
- ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/bryan_armen_graham/09/24/klitschko.arreola.guide/index.html
- ^ defence boxinginsider Aug 2009
- ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-boxnewser092609
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4717805
- ^ http://espn.go.com/sports/boxing/notebook/_/id/5127500/cris-arreola-tomasz-adamek-make-history
- ^ http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/quezada-arreola-clash-august-13-52610
- ^ http://www.boxingscene.com/chris-arreola-crushes-joey-abell-first-round--35301
- ^ http://www.maxboxing.com/news/main-lead/chris-arreola---a-force-to-be-reckoned-with
- ^ http://www.maxboxing.com/news/sub-lead/arreola-makes-a-quick-return-to-the-ring
- ^ http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/dont-cry-for-him-riverside-arreola-stops-releford
- ^ http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=212248&cat=boxer
- ^ http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=212248&cat=boxer
External links
Categories:- American boxers of Mexican descent
- Boxers from California
- Heavyweight boxers
- National Golden Gloves champions
- 1981 births
- Living people
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.