Chris Arreola
“The Nightmare”RECORD
39 - 7 - 1
KOs
34
A big puncher with an even bigger personality, Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola is one of the greatest heavyweights ever of Mexican heritage. Read Bio
Last Fight
Win vs Matthew McKinney
Apr 08, 2023 / Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Matthew McKinney by KO in Round 2 of 8
Videos
Latest News
Chris Arreola News
Jul 15, 2016 /
Wilder vs Arreola, Deontay Wilder, Chris Arreola
Wilder ready to end ring hiatus, defend title against Arreola
He’s 6-foot-7, more than 220 pounds and has a chiseled physique. He also has 35 knockouts in 36 career fights. So, yeah, it’s pretty easy to view Deontay Wilder as superhuman with superhuman power.
Jul 13, 2016 /
Wilder vs Arreola, Chris Arreola, Deontay Wilder
Upset of Wilder would be historic in more ways than one for Arreola
When Deontay Wilder dethroned Bermane Stiverne by unanimous decision on January 17, 2015, he became the first American world heavyweight champion in more than eight years.
Jul 7, 2016 /
Wilder vs Arreola, Deontay Wilder, Chris Arreola
Arreola vows to be in top shape when he challenges Wilder
Chris Arreola will be the first to admit he’s never been the most dedicated gym rat. But he insists he’s training like never before in advance of his battle with heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Fights
Chris Arreola Fights
Win vs Matthew McKinney 13-6-3
Apr 08, 2023 • Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Matthew McKinney by KO in Round 2 of 8
LOSS vs Andy Ruiz 35-2-1
May 01, 2021 • Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
Andy Ruiz WINS against Chris Arreola by UD in Round 12 of 12
LOSS vs Adam Kownacki 20-4-0
Aug 03, 2019 • Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Adam Kownacki WINS against Chris Arreola by UD in Round 12 of 12
Win vs Jeanpierre Augustin 17-0-1
Mar 16, 2019 • AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Jeanpierre Augustin by TKO in Round 3 of 10
Win vs Maurenzo Smith 20-10-4
Dec 01, 2018 • Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Maurenzo Smith by RTD in Round 6 of 8
LOSS vs Deontay Wilder 43-4-1
Jul 16, 2016 • Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
Deontay Wilder WINS against Chris Arreola by TKO in Round 8 of 12
No Contest vs Travis Kauffman 32-4-0
Dec 12, 2015 • AT&T Center, San Antonio
Chris Arreola Travis Kauffman by NC in Round 12 of 12
Draw vs Frederic Kassi 18-3-0
Jul 18, 2015 • Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas
Chris Arreola DRAWS with Frederic Kassi by MDR in Round 10 of 10
Draw vs Fred Kassi 18-3-0
Jul 18, 2015 • Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, USA
Chris Arreola DRAWS with Fred Kassi by MD in Round 10 of 10
Win vs Curtis Harper 12-3-0
Mar 13, 2015 • Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California
Chris Arreola WINS against Curtis Harper by UD in Round 8 of 8
LOSS vs Bermane Stiverne 23-1-1
May 10, 2014 • USC Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
Bermane Stiverne WINS against Chris Arreola by TKO in Round 6 of 12
WIN vs Seth Mitchell 26-1-1
Sep 07, 2013 • Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, USA
Seth Mitchell LOSES to Chris Arreola by KO in Round 1 of 12
LOSS vs Bermane Stiverne 22-1-1
Apr 27, 2013 • Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, USA
Bermane Stiverne WINS against Chris Arreola by UD in Round 12 of 12
Win vs Eric Molina 18-1-0
Feb 18, 2012 • American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Eric Molina by KO in Round 1 of 12
Win vs Raphael Butler 35-11-0
Nov 05, 2011 • Domo De La Feria, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
Chris Arreola WINS against Raphael Butler by TKO in Round 3 of 10
No Contest vs Friday Ahunanya 24-7-3
Jul 09, 2011 • Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Chris Arreola Friday Ahunanya by ND in Round 10 of 10
Win vs Kendrick Releford 22-14-2
May 27, 2011 • Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Kendrick Releford by TKO in Round 7 of 10
Win vs Nagy Aguilera 16-5-0
May 14, 2011 • Home Depot Center, Carson, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Nagy Aguilera by KO in Round 3 of 10
Win vs Joey Abell 27-4-0
Jan 28, 2011 • Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Joey Abell by KO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Manuel Quezada 29-5-0
Aug 13, 2010 • Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Manuel Quezada by UD in Round 12 of 12
LOSS vs Tomasz Adamek 40-1-0
Apr 24, 2010 • Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, USA
Tomasz Adamek WINS against Chris Arreola by MD in Round 12 of 12
Win vs Brian Minto 34-2-0
Dec 05, 2009 • Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Brian Minto by TKO in Round 4 of 10
LOSS vs Vitali Klitschko 37-2-0
Sep 26, 2009 • Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
Vitali Klitschko WINS against Chris Arreola by RTD in Round 10 of 12
Win vs Jameel McCline 39-9-3
Apr 11, 2009 • Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Jameel McCline by KO in Round 4 of 12
Win vs Travis Walker 28-1-1
Nov 29, 2008 • Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Travis Walker by TKO in Round 3 of 12
Win vs Israel Carlos Garcia 19-1-0
Sep 25, 2008 • Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Israel Carlos Garcia by TKO in Round 3 of 10
Win vs Chazz Witherspoon 23-0-0
Jun 21, 2008 • FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Chazz Witherspoon by DQ in Round 3 of 12
Win vs Cliff Couser 26-14-2
Feb 09, 2008 • Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Cliff Couser by TKO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Thomas Hayes 26-1-0
Sep 21, 2007 • Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Thomas Hayes by KO in Round 3 of 10
Win vs Derek Berry 12-8-1
Jul 14, 2007 • Home Depot Center, Carson, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Derek Berry by KO in Round 1 of 10
Win vs Malcolm Tann 23-2-0
May 04, 2007 • Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Malcolm Tann by TKO in Round 8 of 8
Win vs Zakeem Graham 10-1-1
Feb 09, 2007 • Suffolk Community College, Selden, New York, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Zakeem Graham by TKO in Round 3 of 10
Win vs Damian Wills 21-0-1
Nov 04, 2006 • Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Damian Wills by TKO in Round 7 of 10
Win vs Damian Norris 8-1-0
Aug 19, 2006 • Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Damian Norris by TKO in Round 4 of 8
Win vs Sedreck Fields 21-27-2
May 25, 2006 • Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Sedreck Fields by KO in Round 7 of 8
Win vs Lee Manuel Ossie 32-5-0
Apr 12, 2006 • Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Lee Manuel Ossie by KO in Round 1 of 6
Win vs Curtis Taylor 13-15-1
Mar 03, 2006 • Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Curtis Taylor by KO in Round 1 of 6
Win vs Domonic Jenkins 6-3-1
Oct 21, 2005 • Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Domonic Jenkins by TKO in Round 5 of 8
Win vs Andrew Greeley 10-8-2
Sep 23, 2005 • USC Lyon Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Andrew Greeley by UD in Round 6 of 6
Win vs Kenny Lemos 8-1-1
May 05, 2005 • Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Kenny Lemos by TKO in Round 4 of 4
Win vs Samuel Rodriguez 0-3-0
Feb 17, 2005 • The Avalon, Hollywood, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Samuel Rodriguez by TKO in Round 4 of 6
Win vs David Cleage 2-4-1
Jan 21, 2005 • Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against David Cleage by DQ in Round 3 of 4
Win vs Benjamin Garcia 6-4-0
Dec 09, 2004 • Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Benjamin Garcia by TKO in Round 1 of 6
Win vs Ed Mosley 3-6-0
Aug 20, 2004 • Omega Products International, Corona, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Ed Mosley by TKO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs David Johnson 1-6-2
Apr 26, 2004 • Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against David Johnson by TKO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs Jason Condon 1-0-1
Mar 22, 2004 • Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Jason Condon by KO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs Semisi Bloomfield 1-2-1
Feb 16, 2004 • Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Semisi Bloomfield by TKO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs David Johnson 1-4-2
Nov 10, 2003 • Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against David Johnson by KO in Round 2 of 4
Win vs Jeremiah Constant 0-2-0
Oct 03, 2003 • Edgewater Hotel & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Jeremiah Constant by TKO in Round 1 of 4
Win vs Roosevelt Parker 2-1-0
Sep 05, 2003 • Edgewater Hotel & Casino, Laughlin, Nevada, USA
Chris Arreola WINS against Roosevelt Parker by TKO in Round 2 of 4
Stats
Chris Arreola “The Nightmare”
- WINS 39
- LOSSES 7
- DRAWS 1
- KOs 34
Weight 246 lbs (111.82 kg)
Height 6'3" (1.91 m)
Reach 76" (193 cm)
-
Born
March 05, 1981 -
Age
43 -
Country
USA -
Born in
Los Angeles, CA -
Trains in
Escondido, CA
-
Stance
-
Rounds Boxed
236 -
KO Percentage
87.18% -
Boxing Hero
Julio Cesar Chavez
Fighter data provided by BoxRec Ltd. View disclaimer
Chris Arreola Bio
Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola started boxing at the age of 8. At 16, he walked away from the sport after about 200 amateur bouts, only to return at 20 and win a Golden Gloves championship. He’s been putting opponents on the mat regularly since then, winning the vast majority of his fights by knockout, on his way to becoming one of the greatest heavyweights ever of Mexican heritage.
Arreola grew up around the ring, watching Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya train at the Resurrection Boxing Gym in Los Angeles.
He started training there at 8 years old, and had racked up nearly 200 amateur fights before walking away at age 16.
That’s where the story could have ended. Where for most people it would have ended—a childhood dalliance, forgotten as the demands of adulthood mounted.
For the fighter dubbed “The Nightmare,” though, unfinished business was realized at age 20 when he entered the 2001 National Golden Gloves and beat Dallas Vargas to win the 178-pound title.
After another long hiatus from boxing, Arreola sought to compete in the 2003 Golden Gloves, but he arrived shortly after check-in for the tournament and was denied entry. He turned professional after that.
Early years as a pro
Arreola won his pro debut on September 5, 2003, gaining a second-round technical knockout of Roosevelt Parker in Laughlin, Nevada.
He breezed through his early competition, starting out 15-0 with 10 of his opponents being stopped before the third round.
The 6-foot-3 Arreola started to establish himself as a frontline prospect in 2006 with five victories against more experienced foes, including a seventh-round TKO of Damian Wills, who entered their bout with a record of 21-0-1.
Climbing the ranks
Arreola continued to ascend in the heavyweight division by beating several top contenders.
He won four fights in 2007, all by knockout, toppling Zakeem Graham (10-1-1 before their fight), Malcolm Tann (23-2), Derek Berry (12-8-1) and Thomas Hayes (26-1).
He won four more times in 2008 to put himself on the cusp of getting a shot at a world championship.
On June 21, Arreola fought Chazz Witherspoon, who was unbeaten in 23 pro bouts. Arreola knocked Witherspoon to the canvas twice in Round 3, and won by disqualification when Witherspoon’s cornermen entered the ring before the referee’s count was over to improve to 24-0 with 23 KOs.
Arreola followed that win up with victories over Israel Carlos Garcia (19-1 entering the fight) and Travis Walker (28-1-1).
First shot at a world title
Arreola gained a fourth-round KO of former title contender Jameel McCline in Las Vegas in April 2009 to push his record to 27-0 and land a title shot against champion Vitali Klitschko.
The fighters met in the ring at Los Angeles’ Staples Center in September 2009, giving Arreola the advantage of fighting in his hometown.
Arreola hung tough with the Ukrainian for 10 rounds. His corner decided he had enough, though, and didn’t let him come out for Round 11. It didn’t sit well with Arreola.
“When I told him I was going to stop the fight he was irate,” Arreola’s trainer, Henry Ramirez, told The Associated Press afterward.
Quick with a joke and an easy smile, Arreola bounced back with a win over Brian Minto in Atlantic City in December 2009.
He suffered a setback, though, when he lost a 12-round majority decision to Poland’s Tomasz Adamek in April 2010.
The road back toward the top
Arreola got back to work in August 2010, winning a unanimous decision over Manuel Quezada, and went on to reel off six more wins through 2012, including a first-round KO of Eric Molina, who entered the fight at 18-1.
The win over Molina landed Arreola a shot at heralded Canadian contender Bermane Stiverne, who came in with a record of 22-1-1.
Arreola was favored to win the fight, but Stiverne knocked him to the canvas in Round 3, breaking Arreola’s nose in the process.
Arreola was able to go the 12-round distance, but Stiverne won a unanimous decision.
Arreola rebounded with a first-round KO of 26-1-1 Seth Mitchell in Indio, California, in September 2013, setting up a rematch with Stiverne in May 2014 at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center.
With a heavyweight title on the line following Klitschko’s retirement, Stiverne knocked Arreola to the canvas twice in the sixth round before the referee stopped the fight, sending the Los Angeles native to his fourth career defeat.
Slugging his way past Harper
Arreola returned to the ring on March 13, 2015, taking on Curtis Harper at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, as part of the first Premier Boxing Champions card on Spike TV.
Arreola appeared as if he was going to gain an early stoppage of Harper, knocking him to the canvas with a crushing right hand in the first round, but was unable to finish him off.
Harper staged an unforeseen comeback and rocked Arreola with some heavy shots of his own in the middle rounds.
The eight-round fight surprisingly went the distance, and Arreola rallied in the late rounds to win the action-packed bout by unanimous decision.
Arreola hit a rough patch after that. In July 2015, he and Fred Kassi battled to a 10-round majority draw. Then on December 12, 2015, Arreola and Travis Kauffman warred over 12 rounds. Arreola was initially awarded a split decision victory but that was changed to a no contest after Arreola tested positive for marijuana.
July 16, 2016, Arreola challenged then-undefeated WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Wilder dominated, inducing the stoppage after eight rounds.
THE ART OF THE COMEBACK
Arreola returned in December 2018 with a sixth-round TKO over Maurenzo Smith. Then on March 16, 2019, he resembled a rejuvenated fighter as he stopped the previously unbeaten Jean Pierre Augustin inside three rounds.
If there were any doubts as to whether Arreola was still a viable heavyweight contender, those were squashed on August 3rd 2019 as he took on then-undefeated Adam Kownacki aat Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The bout promised to be an old-fashioned brawl and it delivered. Kownacki won a 12-round unanimous decision but it was a heated back and forth where Arreola appeared to get the better of the action during the latter rounds. The two warriors engaged in a slugfest from the opening bell, combining to set heavyweight records in punches landed (667) and thrown (2172).
A Valiant Effort
On May 1, 2021, Arreola took on former unified champion Andy Ruiz Jr. in a FOX Sports PBC pay-per-view live in front of a sell-out crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The 40-year-old Arreola was a large underdog going in but what occurred inside the ring was an entirely different story altogether.
Arreola controlled the early action, flooring Ruiz in the second. The give and take continued throughout. Ultimately, the younger Ruiz used his faster hands to take control down the stretch and win a unanimous decision by scores of 118-109, 118-109 and 117-110.
Afterward, not only did the 31-year-old Ruiz resurrect his career, so too may have Arreola.
“I respect the judges, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” Arreola said. “He might have won, but don't tell me I only won two or three rounds. I got hit in the shoulder and it kinda threw it off. It wasn't a big deal though. It’s a part of boxing. I didn't take too much punishment. I'm ready to run it back with Andy.”
Arreola got back in the win column on April 8, 2023, stopping Mathew McKinney in two rounds at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.