Chris Arreola Returns To Action February 9th - Can 2008 Be The Year Of "The Nightmare?"

26-year-old heavyweight prospect, Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola steps back into the ring this February on the under-card of the Paul Williams-Carlos Quintana card in Temecula, C.A. With his ruggedly entertaining style and unbeaten 22-(20) record, many feel Arreola just might be the next big thing at world level in the big guy's weight class. Seemingly hungry as hell and willing to face the best, Arreola certainly gives the fans his all when he's in action.

Last time out, the 26-year-old was seen destroying Kevin Rooney's latest heavyweight charge, Thomas Hayes, in three impressive rounds. That win was back in September, and now Arreola takes on an opponent yet to be named on Feb 9th. A number of up-the-level-opposition names have been recently mentioned as possible competition for "The Nightmare" in the near future - the re-licensed "Baby" Joe Mesi, for one. Clearly, the coming months are the ones in which it would be prudent for Arreola to take that step up in class. At 26, Arreola will likely be entering his peak years very soon, therefore his mixing things with a top-ten fighter should be happening very soon - hopefully, as I've said, this year.

So far, in attaining his 22 wins, Arreola has not shown anything in the way of an overly obvious weakness. Sure, to some he looks like a guy who could be out-boxed should he meet a fast, hit-and-move type of big man. But who would put their house on a guy like, say "Fast" Eddie Chambers, for example, (another fighter suggested as a possible future opponent for Arreola) beating Arreola? As strong and physically imposing as he appears to be, wouldn't Arreola be too rough for chambers? Maybe. Put Arreola in with another up and coming guy who is willing to stand and trade, however, and this writer's money would definitely be wagered on "The Nightmare." Put Arreola in with a fighters such as the aforementioned Mesi or a Brian Minto, and an eye-catching KO win would likely be the 26-year-old's. It sure would be fun to find out, anyway.

Fan-friendly both in and out of the ring, Arreola is a fighter many want to se do well. If matched correctly, he will without doubt deliver what these people hope/expect of him. Again, a boxer of the capability of a Tony Thompson could possibly be all wrong for him, but, again, I wouldn't rule out an Arreola win there either. Heart and simply wanting to fight hard are attributes that cannot be taught to a boxer. Arreola, so far anyway, has shown he has these attributes.

When he has another three or four wins under his belt, with a couple of them over guys who are either inside most peoples' top-tens, or at the least on the fringes of them, Arreola should be ready to make an assault on one version of the world title or another. Wladimir Klitschko isn't going to be around forever. Indeed, at least one respectable writer has recently said how he feels the current IBF boss is "damaged goods." It just might be that once the Povetkin-Chambers-Klitschko-Ibragimov situation is sorted out, Arreola will be the best available challenger for whoever is left standing.

To this writer's mind, that man will be the quite exceptional Alexander Povetkin. Arreola may never be as well schooled or as talented as the unbeaten Russian star, but it would likely be a very good and pleasing fight between the two men should it come about. I have a hunch there are going to be some exciting and interesting times ahead for the heavyweight division. I wouldn't mind betting that Chris Arreola figures right in the middle of them. In the final analysis, Arreola is one nightmare that produces an enjoyable experience - for anyone except his opponent, that is.