Tag: Chris Arreola

Chris Arreola has worked overtime for his fight with Andy Ruiz Jr.

Chris Arreola has worked overtime for his fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. on May 1.

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]

Chris Arreola has worked overtime for his fight with Andy Ruiz Jr.

Chris Arreola has worked overtime for his fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. on May 1.

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. expects to weigh svelte 250-255 for May 1 fight vs. Chris Arreola

Andy Ruiz Jr. said he expects to weigh a svelte 250-255 pounds for his May 1 fight against Chris Arreola.

Andy Ruiz Jr. says he’ll be a lot fitter on May 1 than he was in his rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Ruiz, scheduled to face Chris Arreola on pay-per-view from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., said on a Zoom call Tuesday afternoon that he expects to weigh around 250-255 pounds for the heavyweight fight.

That’s 28.5-33.5 less than the 283.5 he weighed for the second Joshua fight, which many cite as one reason for his poor performance in a one-sided setback. He weighed 268 for the first Joshua fight, which Ruiz won by knockout to win three titles.

However, Ruiz’s target weight range isn’t uncharted territory. He weighed 252.25 as recently as July 2018, when he easily outpointed Kevin Johnson. And he regularly weighed in the 250s and high 240s in the mid-2010s.

Andy Ruiz Jr. weighed 283.5 for his rematch with Anthony Joshua. Nick Potts / PA via AP

Still, Ruiz, 31, couldn’t be happier about his conditioning program under trainer Eddy Reynoso, with whom he began to work after the loss to Joshua.

“I’ve always been overweight,” he said. “Now that I’ve been dropping weight … in the right way, eating the right things, working on the right things, I feel amazing. I can do stuff I couldn’t do before because of my big gut. I had chichis (breasts), which wouldn’t let me throw the right punches.

“Now I’m more motivated, more dedicated to the sport. The sky’s the limit.”

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) said he ballooned to more than 300 pounds after the loss to Joshua, a further testament to his bad habits.

He said the process of getting to his target weight – losing fat, building muscle — is a gradual one. In other words, fans shouldn’t expect to see a sculpted Adonis on May 1.

“After my last defeat against Anthony Joshua I gained to almost 320, 310 pounds,” he said. “I’ve been working slowly but surely to be around 255, 250. I don’t want to go too crazy losing weight.

“Now I’m trying to change fat into muscle, just working hard. The discipline is there. I’m staying focused.”

Reynoso, who also trains Canelo Alvarez, said that he agreed to work with Ruiz with the stipulation that he would stay on track in his conditioning. The 2019 Trainer of the Year said he hasn’t been disappointed.

“I talked with Andy and his entire team and they gave us the confidence that Andy would work hard,” Reynoso said through a translator. “He’s done exactly that. The focus is for him to once again become world champion.

“There are a lot of great fighters at heavyweight, but we all believe that with this hard work Andy is going to show who he really is.”

[lawrence-related id=18833,17054]

Andy Ruiz Jr. expects to weigh svelte 250-255 for May 1 fight vs. Chris Arreola

Andy Ruiz Jr. said he expects to weigh a svelte 250-255 pounds for his May 1 fight against Chris Arreola.

Andy Ruiz Jr. says he’ll be a lot fitter on May 1 than he was in his rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Ruiz, scheduled to face Chris Arreola on pay-per-view from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., said on a Zoom call Tuesday afternoon that he expects to weigh around 250-255 pounds for the heavyweight fight.

That’s 28.5-33.5 less than the 283.5 he weighed for the second Joshua fight, which many cite as one reason for his poor performance in a one-sided setback. He weighed 268 for the first Joshua fight, which Ruiz won by knockout to win three titles.

However, Ruiz’s target weight range isn’t uncharted territory. He weighed 252.25 as recently as July 2018, when he easily outpointed Kevin Johnson. And he regularly weighed in the 250s and high 240s in the mid-2010s.

Andy Ruiz Jr. weighed 283.5 for his rematch with Anthony Joshua. Nick Potts / PA via AP

Still, Ruiz, 31, couldn’t be happier about his conditioning program under trainer Eddy Reynoso, with whom he began to work after the loss to Joshua.

“I’ve always been overweight,” he said. “Now that I’ve been dropping weight … in the right way, eating the right things, working on the right things, I feel amazing. I can do stuff I couldn’t do before because of my big gut. I had chichis (breasts), which wouldn’t let me throw the right punches.

“Now I’m more motivated, more dedicated to the sport. The sky’s the limit.”

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) said he ballooned to more than 300 pounds after the loss to Joshua, a further testament to his bad habits.

He said the process of getting to his target weight – losing fat, building muscle — is a gradual one. In other words, fans shouldn’t expect to see a sculpted Adonis on May 1.

“After my last defeat against Anthony Joshua I gained to almost 320, 310 pounds,” he said. “I’ve been working slowly but surely to be around 255, 250. I don’t want to go too crazy losing weight.

“Now I’m trying to change fat into muscle, just working hard. The discipline is there. I’m staying focused.”

Reynoso, who also trains Canelo Alvarez, said that he agreed to work with Ruiz with the stipulation that he would stay on track in his conditioning. The 2019 Trainer of the Year said he hasn’t been disappointed.

“I talked with Andy and his entire team and they gave us the confidence that Andy would work hard,” Reynoso said through a translator. “He’s done exactly that. The focus is for him to once again become world champion.

“There are a lot of great fighters at heavyweight, but we all believe that with this hard work Andy is going to show who he really is.”

[lawrence-related id=18833,17054]

Video: Mannix, Mora: Can Andy Ruiz Jr. regain heavyweight title?

Video: Mannix, Mora: Can Andy Ruiz Jr. regain the heavyweight title?

Andy Ruiz Jr. experiences the peaks and valleys of boxing in 2019.

The chubby heavyweight stunned the boxing world by stopping Anthony Joshua to win three of the four heavyweight titles only to lose them in the rematch, for which he was substantially overweight.

What does the future hold for Ruiz, who has joined the stable of trainer Eddy Reynoso? He says he’s working harder than he ever has. Does that mean he can regain at least one of the belts?

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss Ruiz’s future.

Here’s what they had to say.

[jwplayer dnyebPkR]

Video: Mannix, Mora: Can Andy Ruiz Jr. regain heavyweight title?

Video: Mannix, Mora: Can Andy Ruiz Jr. regain the heavyweight title?

Andy Ruiz Jr. experiences the peaks and valleys of boxing in 2019.

The chubby heavyweight stunned the boxing world by stopping Anthony Joshua to win three of the four heavyweight titles only to lose them in the rematch, for which he was substantially overweight.

What does the future hold for Ruiz, who has joined the stable of trainer Eddy Reynoso? He says he’s working harder than he ever has. Does that mean he can regain at least one of the belts?

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, DAZN commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss Ruiz’s future.

Here’s what they had to say.

[jwplayer dnyebPkR]

Video: Mannix, Mora: What can we expect from Andy Ruiz?

Andy Ruiz Jr. returns to the ring against Chris Arreola in a pay-per-view bout April 24, Ruiz’s first fight since he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in their rematch in December 2019. Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) has been training with Eddy Reynoso and …

Andy Ruiz Jr. returns to the ring against Chris Arreola in a pay-per-view bout April 24, Ruiz’s first fight since he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in their rematch in December 2019.

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) has been training with Eddy Reynoso and reportedly has lost a considerable amount of weight, which is part of his plan to regain recognition as a titleholder after losing the belts he won in his first fight with Joshua.

Meanwhile, Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) is fighting to remain a contender at 39 years old.

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss what can be expected of Ruiz, the fight in general and more.

Here’s what they had to say.

[jwplayer 41g9x87S]

 

 

Video: Mannix, Mora: What can we expect from Andy Ruiz?

Andy Ruiz Jr. returns to the ring against Chris Arreola in a pay-per-view bout April 24, Ruiz’s first fight since he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in their rematch in December 2019. Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) has been training with Eddy Reynoso and …

Andy Ruiz Jr. returns to the ring against Chris Arreola in a pay-per-view bout April 24, Ruiz’s first fight since he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in their rematch in December 2019.

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) has been training with Eddy Reynoso and reportedly has lost a considerable amount of weight, which is part of his plan to regain recognition as a titleholder after losing the belts he won in his first fight with Joshua.

Meanwhile, Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) is fighting to remain a contender at 39 years old.

In this episode of Jabs with Mannix and Mora, courtesy of DAZN, hosts Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora discuss what can be expected of Ruiz, the fight in general and more.

Here’s what they had to say.

[jwplayer 41g9x87S]

 

 

Eddy Reynoso says we haven’t seen the best of Andy Ruiz Jr.

Eddy Reynoso says Andy Ruiz Jr. is working hard to whip himself into shape and will be impressive in his next fight.

Eddy Reynoso says we’re going to like what we see the next time Andy Ruiz Jr. fights.

Ruiz has shared videos of himself training hard and trimming down after weighing in at a mammoth 283½ pounds for his last fight, a unanimous-decision loss against Anthony Joshua 13 months ago that cost him the titles he won in their first fight.

And Reynoso said it’s no illusion. Ruiz, who joined Reynoso’s camp after the setback, is doing the work he needs to do to succeed.

“You haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Reynoso told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “He can give much more, even more than he gave in the first Joshua fight. He has a lot of ability, which he has already shown against the best heavyweights in the world.

“The [objective] is to do things well so when he comes back, you’ll see the real Andy Ruiz.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpAu_CldIn/?utm_source=ig_embed

Reynoso said Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) has lost “a lot of weight,” although he didn’t say how much. He looked slimmer in the videos. On top of that, Reynoso said his protégé is evolving as a boxer.

“He’s training well,” Reynoso said. “He’s intelligent, he learns quickly. I just hope the hunger doesn’t leave him so he can demonstrate what he can do. … He’s an exceptional fighter. He just has to continue to work on the discipline.

“The question is focus. He has all the abilities.”

When will we see Ruiz in the ring again? That’s not clear.

He and veteran Chris Arreola reportedly agreed last August to fight one another but no date was set. They are still likely to meet sometime soon.

[lawrence-related id=16711,12858]

Eddy Reynoso says we haven’t seen the best of Andy Ruiz Jr.

Eddy Reynoso says Andy Ruiz Jr. is working hard to whip himself into shape and will be impressive in his next fight.

Eddy Reynoso says we’re going to like what we see the next time Andy Ruiz Jr. fights.

Ruiz has shared videos of himself training hard and trimming down after weighing in at a mammoth 283½ pounds for his last fight, a unanimous-decision loss against Anthony Joshua 13 months ago that cost him the titles he won in their first fight.

And Reynoso said it’s no illusion. Ruiz, who joined Reynoso’s camp after the setback, is doing the work he needs to do to succeed.

“You haven’t seen the best of him yet,” Reynoso told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “He can give much more, even more than he gave in the first Joshua fight. He has a lot of ability, which he has already shown against the best heavyweights in the world.

“The [objective] is to do things well so when he comes back, you’ll see the real Andy Ruiz.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpAu_CldIn/?utm_source=ig_embed

Reynoso said Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) has lost “a lot of weight,” although he didn’t say how much. He looked slimmer in the videos. On top of that, Reynoso said his protégé is evolving as a boxer.

“He’s training well,” Reynoso said. “He’s intelligent, he learns quickly. I just hope the hunger doesn’t leave him so he can demonstrate what he can do. … He’s an exceptional fighter. He just has to continue to work on the discipline.

“The question is focus. He has all the abilities.”

When will we see Ruiz in the ring again? That’s not clear.

He and veteran Chris Arreola reportedly agreed last August to fight one another but no date was set. They are still likely to meet sometime soon.

[lawrence-related id=16711,12858]