By: Hans Themistode
They weren’t jarring in their criticism but Chris Arreola could hear his doubts loud and clear.
Despite being at a ripe old age and on a two-fight losing streak, Arreola believes he still has a lot to offer to the world of boxing.
“Mothers out there are hateful and mean,” Arreola said in an interview with ESNEWS. “Call me old and damn.”
In 2016, after a defeat in the 1/8 round at the hands of Deontay Wilder, Arreola had to sit out the next two and a half years. After returning at the end of 2018, this heavyweight contender had two wins in a row. With momentum firmly at her side, Arreola managed to stop Adam Kownacki’s train of heavy hype.
However, even though Arreola delivered 1,125 punches, a record for a heavyweight bout, he suffered a decisively wide defeat. Though it wasn’t the outcome he wanted in the end, Arreola returned to the ring earlier this year to take on Andy Ruiz Jr.
Entering the heavyweight clash in mid-2021, Arreola has repeatedly stated that if he is unsuccessful in his attempt to defeat the former unified player, he will officially retire.
Considered a sizable underdog, Arreola appeared to be on track to score in epic frustration. In the opening game, the California native had a 1-2 flush. As a result, Ruiz Jr crashed onto the deck.
However, despite his initial success, Ruiz Jr rallied back to win. While Arreola believed his time in the sport of boxing was over by then, the 41-year-old soon had a change of heart.
More than anything, Arreola still dreamed of wrapping heavy gold around her waist. As the competitor thought to himself, he recalled November 5, 1994. That night, George Foreman, 45, regained his heavyweight crown, scoring a tenth round victory over Michael Moorer.
As Arreola continues to reminisce, his self-belief only grows as he believes his heavyweight title dreams are far from over.
“I still have four or five years left until I’m 45 like George Foreman. He won the title at the age of 45 so I still have time.”
