Andy Ruiz Jr. isn’t the only one who found the value in discipline.

Chris Arreola, Ruiz’s opponent on May 1 in Carson, Calif., also once had a questionable work ethic. But he turned a corner late in his career and now has as the stamina of a much younger man.

Want proof? Arreola threw a heavyweight record 1,125 punches in his unanimous-decision loss to Adam Kownacki in August 2019, according to CompuBox.

The fighting spirit – and the punching power – has always been there for Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs). Fitness is an added weapon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnW6SJb_fg

“I was able to keep up the pace against Kownacki because I did everything I had to do in the gym,” he said. “I could have given three more rounds at the end of that fight, too. The fight is always won in the gym and we put all of the work in to win that fight. I thought I won that fight. Despite not getting the decision, it was a fun fight for me.

“I feel great. I’ve been working hard for months. I know that I have to make this a great fight for the fans and for myself. I know how crucial this fight is for my career.”

Kownacki threw 1,047 punches in the fight Arreola, which added up to a combined heavyweight record of 2,172 punches. The Polish-American landed a division record 667, which doesn’t necessarily reflect well on Arreola’s defensive skills.

But Arreola, 40, insists he’s improved in that area under trainer Joe Goossen, who will be in his corner for a second time on May 1. Remember: They will have had most of two years to refine his technique.

Consistent work during his time off, he believes, will minimize any impact of the layoff.

“Defensively I’ve grown so much working with Joe,” he said. “He’s taught me a lot about keeping my hands up and countering. He hasn’t reinvented the wheel; he’s just made sure the wheel is round.”

Arreola knows he’ll be the underdog – by as much as 15-1 — against his fellow Mexican-American, who won and then lost portions of the heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua in 2019.

And he couldn’t care less. He’s been fighting for more than two decades and has tangled with the likes of Vitali Klitschko and Deontay Wilder in title fights. Not much is going to faze him.

“I don’t pay attention to the odds,” he said. “If people want to make me the underdog, I’m comfortable with that. I’ve been an underdog my whole life.”

[lawrence-related id=19705,19019,18833]

Andy Ruiz Jr. isn’t the only one who found the value in discipline.

Chris Arreola, Ruiz’s opponent on May 1 in Carson, Calif., also once had a questionable work ethic. But he turned a corner late in his career and now has as the stamina of a much younger man.

Want proof? Arreola threw a heavyweight record 1,125 punches in his unanimous-decision loss to Adam Kownacki in August 2019, according to CompuBox.

The fighting spirit – and the punching power – has always been there for Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs). Fitness is an added weapon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROnW6SJb_fg

“I was able to keep up the pace against Kownacki because I did everything I had to do in the gym,” he said. “I could have given three more rounds at the end of that fight, too. The fight is always won in the gym and we put all of the work in to win that fight. I thought I won that fight. Despite not getting the decision, it was a fun fight for me.

“I feel great. I’ve been working hard for months. I know that I have to make this a great fight for the fans and for myself. I know how crucial this fight is for my career.”

Kownacki threw 1,047 punches in the fight Arreola, which added up to a combined heavyweight record of 2,172 punches. The Polish-American landed a division record 667, which doesn’t necessarily reflect well on Arreola’s defensive skills.

But Arreola, 40, insists he’s improved in that area under trainer Joe Goossen, who will be in his corner for a second time on May 1. Remember: They will have had most of two years to refine his technique.

Consistent work during his time off, he believes, will minimize any impact of the layoff.

“Defensively I’ve grown so much working with Joe,” he said. “He’s taught me a lot about keeping my hands up and countering. He hasn’t reinvented the wheel; he’s just made sure the wheel is round.”

Arreola knows he’ll be the underdog – by as much as 15-1 — against his fellow Mexican-American, who won and then lost portions of the heavyweight title against Anthony Joshua in 2019.

And he couldn’t care less. He’s been fighting for more than two decades and has tangled with the likes of Vitali Klitschko and Deontay Wilder in title fights. Not much is going to faze him.

“I don’t pay attention to the odds,” he said. “If people want to make me the underdog, I’m comfortable with that. I’ve been an underdog my whole life.”

[lawrence-related id=19705,19019,18833]