04.09.07 – By James Slater: Currently in training for his September 21st fight with the once-beaten Kevin Rooney trained Thomas Hayes, undefeated heavyweight contender Chris Arreola very kindly took time out to speak with this writer over the phone earlier today. Here is what “The Nightmare” had to say.
James Slater: Firstly, Chris, what do you know about your next opponent, Thomas Hayes?
Chris Arreola: I know he’s gonna come right at me and be in my chest. I know He’s trained by Kevin Rooney and is very much in the Mike Tyson mold.
J.S: Have you seen tapes of him?
C.A: No, I haven’t. But my coach has. But those tapes are about two years old, so I’m sure he’s a different fighter now anyway. But so am I, I’m a better fighter now than I was two years ago.
J.S: Based on what you know, what type of fight do you expect then?
C.A: I know he’s not going to try and box me. I expect an explosive fight, I have to get his respect early. I will jab him hard in the mouth right away to gain his respect. I think he will be trying to bob and weave his way in to me. It should make for a good fight.
J.S: You are one of the heavyweight division’s most active fighters, with three, four or even five fights a year. Are you comfortable fighting at that pace?
C.A: Definitely. Actually, the more fights the better. I love fighting so often, that way I stay in shape, so the more the better for me. I hope to have one more fight this year after Hayes. Hopefully in December, on the under card of Hatton-Mayweather. That would be great.
J.S: I know you want to become the first ever Mexican based heavyweight champ. Is that your main goal?
C.A: Definitely. That’s the main thing in my head. It’s funny, but as a kid I never thought I’d be a heavyweight. I always felt I’d be a welterweight or a middleweight. I won the Golden Gloves at 178 pounds. But now, yeah, I want to be the first American-Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.
J.S: Of the current champions – Klitschko, Maskaev, Chagaev and Ibragimov – who would you most like to face?
C.A: To me, it’s always been the WBC title. That’s the one I always looked at when I was a kid. I don’t know why, but that was always the title I looked at when I thought of a champion. So it doesn’t matter who is the WBC champ at the time, that’s who I’d most like to fight. I will fight anyone.
J.S: As you know, Maskaev is the WBC champ right now, but he faces Peter soon. Who do you pick?
C.A: I go for Peter. I think Maskaev was trying to weasel out of the fight. And going by Maskaev’s recent record I take Peter to win.
J.S: A fight between you and Peter would be great!
C.A: Yeah, it would. It’s like in wrestling, he wouldn’t be able to go by his nickname after I beat him. He’s “The Nigerian Nightmare” and I’m just “The Nightmare”, so…. (laughs).
J.S: Talking about exciting fights. You’re a real crowd pleaser, do you hold that as being one of your major priorities, to please the fans each and ever time you fight?
C.A: I’m an entertainer. Every boxer is an entertainer to some degree. I always come to fight and I just want to fight. I don’t want to be hugging in there. If an opponent wants to hold I’ll find a way to stop him from doing that and make him fight me. I always want to keep punching.
J.S: You say you want to be heavyweight champ. Realistically, when do you think you will be given a chance to achieve that goal?
C.A: Next year, hopefully. Some time in the middle of next year. Say March, something like that. I feel I’ll be ready then.
J.S: In your pro career so far, who has given you your toughest fight?
C.A: Without a doubt, Domonic Jenkins. His record is not much on paper, he’s only just above a .500 fighter. But he’s fought a lot of good prospects and beaten some of them. He punched real hard and that fight was when I knew I had a chin. He was hitting me with everything before I wore him down in the fifth round. And after that fight, about two or three fights after, I had a tough night with “Big Buck” – I cant remember his real name ( Chris is referring to Sedrick Fields). But he gave me a good fight. That was when I knew I could box also.
J.S: Talking about your background. Has Hector Rodriguez always been your trainer?
C.A: Hector Rodriguez has trained me since I was seven or eight years old. When I got back into boxing [after a fairly lengthy break] at age twenty in Riverside, CA, Henry was with me again- he and my manager, Al Haymen.
J.S: And when did you hook up with Gossen Tutor?
C.A: Oh, around my eighth or tenth fight. They’re real good to me and have guided me real well.
J.S: Who were your boxing heroes as a young kid, any heavyweights?
C.A: No, no heavyweights. Because, as I said, I never thought I’d be a heavyweight myself. I did see one heavyweight fight that inspired me though. That was Riddick Bowe-Evander Holyfield one. I love that fight! I saw it as a young kid and thought at the time how I was glad I’d never be a heavyweight! I did admire Lennox Lewis later, too. He had great skills.
J.S: Talking about that era, with Holyfield, Lewis and Bowe. Do you think today’s heavyweight division is in good shape?
C.A: I do. The talent is always there, it’s just that the best fights aren’t always being made. For example, [Wladimir] Klitschko Vs. [Nikolay] Valuev, that fight could have been made and that fight would have really got people talking. Yeah, the talent is there, it’s just that some people would rather walk on the safer side.
J.S: Some people believe you could be the next big thing at heavyweight. Do you feel any pressure?
C.A: Not at all. I feel more pressure taking my daughter to school and back. I want to look after her and make sure she gets a good education. No, I don’t feel any pressure, I feel more pressure from my wife!
J.S: You do seem something of a throwback fighter, in as much as you really want to fight. When you say you don’t care who you fight, do you really mean it?
C.A: Of course. It doesn’t matter who I fight, I’ll fight whoever. This [boxing] is not something to be scared at. If you’re scared you go to church, you know? I don’t even know how much I’m going to get paid until after some of my fights. You know Ricky Hatton, and how he still hangs with the same people he always did and still drinks in the same bar even though he’s a massive success? That’s me. I’m down to earth. It don’t matter how people know me as “The Nightmare” and a great fighter, I’m still the same person I always was.
J.S: Talking about possible future opponents. Are there any British heavyweights you’d consider fighting, have you heard of any?
C.A: Not really. I always thought that guy, “A-Force” [Audley Harrison] would be something. He had the body of a god, was an Olympic gold medallist and everything. I don’t know what went wrong though. But yeah, I’d love to take a fight in Britain. It would be a vacation for me too.
J.S: You really would fight anyone then. What makes you so confident, your natural ability?
C.A: Well, it’s not so much that. It’s having confidence in your training. If you train right you can beat anyone. Training is where you really earn your money.
J.S: It’s been great speaking with you, Chris. For my final question, where do you see yourself in 12-18 months?
C.A: In 12-18 months? As the heavyweight champion of the world, definitely!
J.S: Well, best of luck for that and for the fight on the 21st.
C.A: Okay, thank you. My pleasure.