Chris Arreola has been a fans fighter for some time. I’ve enjoyed watching him through wins and losses. Regardless of his training (or lack of), Chris has been a top contender who carries some extra fat. In his HBO fights, Arreola was rarely seen gulping air and was always ready to fight. Last Friday night may have been the last Arreola fight I watch for a while.
Besides the haircut, aesthetically, Chris looked the same. He was fat and blubbery but that is how we know him to be. Chris has some extra pounds on him; that never stopped him from going the distance or knocking out opponents. Manuel Quezada, a former sparring partner was Arreola’s opponent. Headlining an ESPN Friday night fight card, two chubby heavyweights faced each other for a shot at redemption.
Chris needed to win and win impressively to be considered back in with the big boys. We were hoping for him to be in better shape. He was not. Not only was Chris slightly heavier than his last fight, he also looked winded and swollen towards the end of the fight. Quezada was never on Arreola’s level, but Arreola never looked so average.
The only time I felt some serious excitement was when Quezada was floored in the ninth, twice. Each time he returned and could not be put away.
He was a star. Now Arreola looks like a fat, average and sloppy heavyweight with questionable hands who can punch but is a just a chin checker for other heavyweights. This could not have been confirmed more by his performance last Friday.
I have hope for Arreola. The heavyweight has natural talent and a fighter’s heart. This has been shown in his fight with Vitali, and when he damaged his hand against Adamek as well as on Friday when he broke his hand in the third round but continued to fight. Unfortunately, he has hit a brick wall. This is a tall brick wall surrounds him in several directions.
His first obstacle is his goal. Does Arreola really want to fight? If his mind and heart is not there to train, nothing else matters.
Arreola needs someone new in his team. He is comfortable with his trainer Henry Ramirez so there is no need to get rid of him. Unfortunately, Chris has fought the same fight his entire career. If he plans on contending for a title again he needs either a conditioning coach, nutritionist, a new second (like when Eddie Mustafah was brought in for Zab Judah’s camp) or a combination of the above. A conditioning coach and nutritionist will help get him into better shape. Was Chris ever fit? He fought and won amateur titles at 178. He was sixteen but he couldn’t have been as flabby as he is now.
Unless he changes his camp, posts some pictures of him and some abs and muscles, I just can’t continue to believe his protests of I am serious and am in the best shape of my life. Friday may have been a disappointing return to a great fighter, but could be the wake up call he needed.
All Photos by Big Joe Miranda
Great artical.
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