“The Nightmare” is back in action this weekend
Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola is back in action tomorrow night in his brawl against Brian “The Beast” Minto, which takes place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. I spoke with Team Arreola in New Jersey as they were getting ready and looking forward to Chris’ return to the ring. The Arreola-Minto fight will be featured on the undercard of the Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martinez clash, presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions.
When last seen inside the ropes this past September, the popular L.A. boxer had hopes of becoming the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion–if he could beat the Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko. No small feat. There was a lot of pressure riding on the 28-year-old’s sturdy shoulders, with critics always questioning his weight and discipline. It was not meant to be this time around as the precision and skill of “Dr. Ironfist” stopped the contender in ten rounds.
But after the fight, Arreola wasn’t picked apart for not shedding the weight, but instead took potshots for shedding tears in his post-fight interview. Many were surprised to see the macho man cry–and curse–after he saw his dream shattered against the more experienced Klitschko. Dropping a few F-bombs in his raw and honest outburst, the always-candid Chris was subsequently fined by the WBC for use of foul language in his on-camera interview.
So just what the f**k is next for Chris Arreola?
He’s back on this weekend’s card airing on HBO Championship Boxing at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.
Not assuming anything but once he gets past Minto (34-2, 21 KOs), his camp says the Riverside boxer will stay busy and is looking forward to keeping active–and still aiming for a world title in the future.
I got the exclusive scoop today from his trainer, his cornerman and his sparring partner.
Speaking tonight with trainer Henry Ramirez, all is well in the camp; they’re calm and collected before their bout. “Everything’s going good,” the amiable trainer tells me. “Now it’s just the usual routine after the weigh-in and before the fight; we kinda retreat before the fight.”
And the million dollar question: What was Chris’ official weight tonight?
“He weighed in at 263,” answers Henry. And while I’ve got him on the phone, I ask him for a prediction.
“Ah,” Ramirez chuckles. “He’ll win by a KO. I’m not sure what round, but it will be a KO victory!”
Next up was “Indian” Willie Schunke, who had arrived on the East Coast yesterday. The veteran cutman owns a private gym in Riverside where Arreola trains with Ramirez. Schunke also works with hot contenders Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco, Jose Lopez, and prospects Hector Serrano and Jonathan Arellano, among many others.
Team Arreola had to abandon still-sunny SoCal for the wintry weather of NJ. We here in L.A. freak out over a light drizzle, so I ask how the camp is going over there and how Chris (who Schunke affectionately refers to as “The Big Guy”) is doing just a day before the fight. He and I had time to chat before the weigh-in.
“I arrived last night. It’s not that cold here, not as bad as I thought it would be,” Schunke says with relief. “According to the news, there was supposed to be a blizzard going on, but it’s not that bad here!
“Chris will be moving around some today for the weigh-in at 6:00. He’s kept his weight down…you’ll see! This time he came back to the gym at his lightest weight ever.”
What is Team Arreola’s opinion about opponent Brian Minto? The camp says he’s no tomato can.
“He’s had his opponent changed a couple of times now,” explains the “Indian,” who is also a fight promoter and has held a string of successful events at Morongo Casino. “But with Brian Minto, we do NOT take him lightly. He’s a very tough guy–not a walkover at all!”
Although Minto is the smaller and older challenger, the heavy hitter does have a streak of seven victories in his last seven fights.
Did the quick turnaround time and switch in opponents have any effect on Chris?
“No, Chris is not the type of person to pay attention to that–he focuses on the fight,” says his cornerman. “Henry looks at all the tapes to get him ready.”
It’s been almost three months since Arreola (27-1, 24 KOs) suffered his first defeat. Has the camp fully bounced back from the loss?
His longtime cutman confirms they have. “It’s behind us now,” states Schunke. “As a matter of fact, no one ever talks about it.
“I’m glad he’s back in the ring. We’re just looking forward now, and there’s no reason why he can’t fight again in a couple of months.”
“Indian” Willie also tells me that Arreola is still working with strength and conditioning coach Darryl Hudson, who first came aboard during the training for his bout against Klitschko. And before signing off, he mentions that ‘the little boy’ is back home with the little lady. The little boy Schunke is referring to is his beloved English bulldog, Tank. The pooch was a gift from his close compadre Arreola; Tank’s furry siblings are owned by Chris.
Chris and Henry were both at the Pechanga fights last Saturday in support of his Goossen Tutor stablemate John Molina. “Indian” Willie said he would’ve been there with them too, but he was in the corner of Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco, who scored a TKO victory against Kermit Guardia at the Spotlight 29 Casino on the same night.
Last weekend at Pechanga, Arreola–a big local favorite–received a huge round of applause from his loyal fans. This was one of his first public appearances since his loss to Klitschko. After all the bouts ended, the heavyweight was keeping it low-key in the corner of the room but was still surrounded by fans and well-wishers.
While the 6′ 4″ Chris is often mocked for his less than picture-perfect physique and his true-to-his-roots personality, Arreola is still keepin’ it real and trying to be himself while he continues to fight for a heavyweight world championship. And in all the times I’ve seen Arreola out and about, I have never seen him turn down any request for a photo or an autograph. He’s that lovable lug outside the ring who becomes a feared foe once inside the ropes.
A week ago, both he and his trainer were keeping things loose and light while gearing up for the trek to the Left Coast. The two said they are more than ready for Chris’ climb back up those stairs.
And one more who will be carefully watching Arreola climb back up those stairs to the canvas will be one his sparring partners Javier Mora, whose nickname is “The Monster.” Both Travis Kauffman and Mora spent some time bangin’ away with the fellow slugger. And Chris’ Mexican counterpart is the same age as Arreola, with a similar build, and shares the same chosen profession of 
heavyweight boxer. Mora has had several fistic collisions of his own, with 22 victories and 18 knockouts on his ledger. He was on the undercard of the Arreola-Klitschko matchup, and plans to fight again in early 2010.
And just like Chris, he’s a tough talker and a straight shooter.
“I’ve known Chris since he first started as a pro,” Mora says. “It had been a couple of years since we had last worked together, before this last time.”
How did the sparring go this time around?
“He does hit harder now…or I’m getting old!” Javier admits, perhaps only half joking. “But…he does need to work on his conditioning.”
Homie’s just keepin’ it real.
“I think I helped push him–and his conditioning–this last camp,” Mora continues. “Granted, I’m a ‘young veteran’ but I know how to last! And I do, at times, bust out some ‘James Toney’ on his ass so that does tend to frustrate and wear him down some, but it’s all part of being motivated!”
Any last-minute advice for Brian Minto, who will be on the receiving end of Arreola’s brute force?
I’ll let “The Monster” have the final word on this.
“I’m guessing he’s not gonna want to bang with Chris,” Javier says about Arreola’s challenger. “Chris is strong and could put many out!”
And that’s exactly what Team Arreola is hoping for, that the “Big Guy” puts his opponent out with no questions left unanswered.
Photos by Michele Chong: Arreola poses with fans at Pechanga; The team of Chris, Henry and “Indian” Willie; “The Monster” photo courtesy of Javier Mora