Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (35-2-30KO) has a big fight coming up April 27th Vs. Bermane Stiverne (22-1-20KO-1D). It?s a title eliminator fight for the WBC heavyweight title. The fight will be on HBO, and will take place at Citizens Business Bank Arena, in Ontario, California.
Arreola stopped by 8CN and gave us his thoughts on the big fight, and talked about the importance of getting the win.
BC ? Thanks for joining us. What?s up Chris?
CA ? Just getting out of the gym getting ready for my next fight Vs. Bermane Stiverne.
BC ? Talk about this fight.
CA ? It?s been a long time coming. We were supposed to be fighting since November but I got sick. I know this is going to be a tough fight. My respect to Stiverne, but I got to go out and get this win. I know it?s going to be tough. The fans are going to want to watch this, so all of you southern California fans come on out and show your support.
BC ? Have you seen this guy fight before?
CA- Yea man, I?ve seen his videos. The most important thing to me is that he?s got a big amateur career. He has a lot of international experience and he is a hard puncher that throws good combinations. He?s a guy that I will have to be on my P?s and Q?s for.
BC ? He also has a high knockout ratio. I?m guessing that gets your attention too.
CA ? Absolutely man, he has that one punch equalizer punch. He?s a crafty dude, and he throws good punches. It only takes that one punch to get you out of there. He has to worry about me just like I have to worry about him.
BC ? This is a title eliminator fight. Talk about how big this fight is for you.
CA ? It?s a big honor. I?m glad this is happening for me. I?ve been working my butt off man. I feel bad because last year I only fought one time. The year before, I was really busy. I?ve been working hard since I lost to Vitali.
BC ? You came close to a world title with that opportunity against Wlad. How do you stay focused while waiting for the next opportunity?
CA ? If you love what you do, it?s not too hard to stay focused. The hardest part is waiting, when you have to wait a long time to get a fight, that?s hard. Once you get a fight it?s easy, and you stop all the extracurricular activity. When you are waiting, that?s the part when you have a lot of time to find something to do, and that?s what I don?t like doing.
BC ? How is camp going so far?
CA ? It?s good, this is my second week into it. I was sick and couldn?t even get out of bed a few weeks ago. I?m eating my vitamins now because I?m not trying to get sick AGAIN.
BC ? What weight are you walking around at right now?
CA ? Right now I am walking around at 255. It?s not where I want to be. I want to be walking around the high 240?s by fight time. Come fight time the low 240?s. I keep my power at that weight, and feel good there.
BC ? You have a full camp to get there.
CA ? Oh absolutely, and the best part is that I can get there without cutting weight. It?s all about training, and boxing, and getting in shape.
BC ? What?s the biggest lesson that you learned so far?
CA ? Not taking things for granted, and not being full of myself. I thought my shit didn?t stink. I didn?t think I had to go to the gym but a few times a week because I did that as a kid. I took my early success for granted. You can?t take your youth for granted. You can?t take time for granted.
BC ? Some fighters fight beyond their time, and don?t realize when their window of opportunity has passed them.
CA ? Absolutely man and it?s a tough thing to tell people. Not everybody is like Andre Ward and so humble. He strives to be better all of the time. That?s what makes Ward so good.
BC ? Not everybody is like Bernard Hopkins and can win titles at 48 years old.
CA ? Exactly, and he was smart enough to take care of himself inside and outside of the ring. He?s a smart fighter and that?s why he?s been winning for as long as he has.
BC ? Back to your fight, what else does he do that warrants your respect?
CA ? He?s hungry man. He wants to be what I want to be. I want to be the first Mexican to win a heavyweight world title. He wants to win the heavyweight title for his people too. We both have a sense of history and motivation to win for our people.
BC – The fans really enjoy watching you fight. What is it about your boxing that people like so much?
CA ? It?s very motivating that people respect what I do. People see some fighters like Travis Walker all chiseled up and looking like a bodybuilder, then they look at me a sloppy dude, but then the next thing that happens is the sloppy looking dude beats the shit out of him. People like that.
BC ? When you do hang up the gloves one day, how do you want to be best remembered by the fans?
CA- I want to leave a legacy behind. I want the fans to say that I was one of the most exciting fighters of my time. There?s a long way to go, but when I do retire they won?t say he could have, should have, would have, they will say, he did it.
BC ? Do you have any closing thoughts?
CA ? Check out the fight on HBO April 27th, and if you can come in person, check it out in Southern California at Citizens Business Bank, in Ontario, California. It?s going to be a great fight!
Special thanks to Marylyn Aceves for assisting with this interview.
