Video: Ring Life: Chris Arreola Episode #1 & #2 (HBO)

[edit] Amateur career
Arreola grew up in East LA, his father was a boxer and he started boxing at the age of 8 and at 16 had "about 200 amateur bouts"(Max boxing) before losing interest and quitting. At 20 he got back into boxing and after only three months of training managed to win the National Golden Gloves in 2001 as a light-heavyweight against Dallas Vargas who had about 300 amateur fights at that time.

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.


[edit] Pro
In 2003 the Goossen Tutor promoted tatooed 6-foot-4 fighter turned pro at heavyweight with little fanfare. His nickname is "Nightmare". 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’.”

At first the offensive-minded Arreola only beat weak opposition but got good sparring in California against Wladimir Klitschko, Hasim Rahman and James Toney. He now resides in Riverside, California.