By Chris Robinson

The more time I spend covering boxing, the more I seem to become embedded in the sport.

Focusing on articles, videos, and photos, there is no better place for me to get pure coverage than inside of the gyms and over the past three-plus years I’ve been able to chronicle some of the finest prospects in Las Vegas and California.

It was August of 2010 when I first crossed paths with Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Luis ‘Cuba’ Arias, as the National Amateur champion was giving light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson some lively work ahead of his clash with Jean Pascal later that month. I instantly spotted Arias’ strength and aggression in the ring and knew he would likely be making noise as a professional.

A few years later and Arias’ name is starting to slowly but surely resonate within boxing circles.

Aligned with Floyd Mayweather’s “The Money Team” outfit, Arias is coming off of a rousing 2nd round TKO over previously unbeaten Joshua Robertson this past weekend inside of the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas that saw his record rise to 2-0 with 1 knockout.

During a recent conversation with the 22-year old prospect, we touched on various topics, including the victory over Robertson, the life-changing decision to make the move to Las Vegas, and some of the best memories of his flourishing career.

Arias also spoke on his connection with Mayweather both in and out of the ring, from his time sparring him ahead of his match with Miguel Cotto to being taken under the wing by the pound-for-pound star.

This is what Arias had to share…

Being with Mayweather while his Tweet mentioning Devon Alexander went viral…

“Actually I just came to the gym and [Floyd] just wanted to talk to me. I was next to him as he was getting ready to Tweet it. I was right next to him. He just said that at the end of the day he is the boss. No one tells him who he fights. It’s always been like that. That’s nothing new. Obviously a lot of people are pushing certain opponents towards him and getting him to make certain decisions but he’s Floyd Mayweather at the end of the day. Floyd Mayweather fights who he wants to fight, when he wants to fight and at what times. It was just a matter of not letting everyone else dictate everything. I guess Floyd is just showing to the world that the runs his business. It doesn’t matter who he fights, he’s Floyd Mayweather and people are going to want to see his fight regardless of who he fights.”

Why Alexander deserves his shot…

“Honestly, realistically, I think somebody like Devon deserves the fight anyways. Let’s be real, [Robert] Guerrero only beat [Andre] Berto, who hasn’t fought in a year and change. He’s only had one legit fight at 47’. Devon Alexander has more of a name and [he’s] more of an exciting fighter given the fact that he’s a little faster and quicker than Guerrero. I just think Guerrero is going to be too slow for Floyd. Guerrero’s a great fighter, he’s a great champion, and he’s on his way, but I feel like to step in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, you need more than just one victory over somebody who wasn’t even warmed up yet. He was fighting somebody who was off for a long time. Let’s say he doesn’t fight Robert Guerrero and he does fight Devon Alexander, Guerrero is not out of the picture. Floyd will fight again and maybe Floyd just thinks he needs to prove more. Right now, he still hasn’t proven a lot in the game.”

Mayweather reaching out after Arias’ 2nd round TKO over Robertson…

“We just came off of a good performance and we got some TV time. As far as I’m hearing about all of the comments that got back to Floyd and got back to Leonard [Ellerbe], and the comments that got back to me; we put on a good performance and we opened a lot eyes and we definitely put on a show that we wanted to put on. Given that it was Floyd Mayweather’s first big card with so many good fighters, it was a very good look for him. Badou [Jack] did his thing, I did my thing, and Mickey Bey did his thing. He kind of just wanted to talk to me and congratulate me.”

Mayweather keeping it 100%...

“He’s somebody who takes good care of his fighters and he’s a real honest and a real 100% person. If you’re doing your thing, he’ll tell you that you’re doing the correct things. And if you’re doing the wrong things, he’ll tell you you’re doing the wrong things. That’s why I’m glad I have him on his side because he’s been 100% honest with me with everything that I’ve done. I haven’t been on Floyd’s good side the entire time. There’s been a couple things that I’ve done that Floyd didn’t like too much and he told me ‘You’re doing this wrong’. It was just him being a great promoter and just showing his face in the gym and just coming in and talking to me with Leonard. On top of that, they let me know that they want me coming back fighting on February 23rd. We’re just clearing some details out.”

Making the move to Las Vegas…

“Well, growing up, Milwaukee, Wisconsin made me as the fighter I am. Israel Acosta, Thomas Hill, and the coaches that I had in Milwaukee, they formed my basis. Certain times you outgrow certain things and once you get to a certain level, you just have to step up everything. Everything is a step up. Your training needs to step up, the things you’re learning need to step up, your conditioning, your strength, everything is a step up. I had to make the move. It was nothing personal to anyone back in Milwaukee and I still keep in contact with every single person back in Milwaukee. But I just needed to elevate my boxing and take it to the next level.”

His first visit to Las Vegas after connecting with Hasim Rahman…

“Now, in the amateurs, I was able to build a relationship with Hasim Rahman, who was one of the first ones to peek me out as an amateur and told me ‘You’ve got serious talent; we could take your talent to the next level’, which is why I came to Vegas three years ago and the first person that I sparred and got to work with was Ishe Smith, who’s now fighting for the title. Just to show you how things work. I was able to come here and work with him, and I got ready for a national tournament here in Vegas and I ended up winning the national tournament. I knew Vegas was where it was at. I met Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, I met Big Rock (Hasim Rahman) and I got to build my relationships out here in Vegas and my name just started buzzing. At the end of the day, Las Vegas is the boxing capital of the world.”

Taking a risk and following his dreams…

“If I had any advice to anybody who comes from a small city like I came from, where boxing or anything you’re trying to do is not there, than I would suggest to somebody to take a step to a bigger city and try to [chase] your opportunities and that’s exactly what I did. I came out to Las Vegas to follow my dreams and take my boxing to the next level. I took a risk, I packed my bags, I gave my Mom a kiss, I told my Dad ‘I’m going to do this’ and said bye to my friends, my girlfriend. I just had to come out here and try to pursue this dream. I was able to get connected and it was pretty much an easy decision given the connections I had met when I came to Vegas. As I grow older, I had already said in my mind and my heart that I was going to move to Vegas in order to take my boxing to the next level. And look where I’m at right now. God blessed me with beautiful opportunities. It was my second professional fight and I was on national television, I put on a great performance, I’m signed with Floyd Mayweather and the Mayweather team. I got to meet Leonard Ellerbe; I got to build some relationships with some powerful people. It was an easy decision and it’s working out for the better for me right now. My boxing right now is at an all-time high in every aspect and I can’t complain. I just want to thank God and thank everyone who’s blessed me with all these opportunities.”

Sparring with Mayweather during the lead up to his bout with Miguel Cotto…

“Sparring Floyd is the reason that I was able to get signed, to get the opportunities that I was going to get. Like I said, I built a relationship with Hasim Rahman and he set it up for me to meet Floyd and for Floyd to try to give me an opportunity. I came into the gym; you know how Floyd is with a big group of people. I wasn’t even known at all, and it wasn’t that I was nervous, I felt like there were only a couple of people who really knew me and had my back at the time. But I knew I had the skills, I knew I had the work ethic, and I knew once Floyd saw me and once Floyd gave me his shot, I would be able to prove to him that I got something that the world needs to see. I’m been mentally tough for a very long time. I’ve been working with pros since I was eighteen, maybe younger than that. I knew it was going to be tough, I knew it was going to be hard, but I knew I was going to be able to hold my own. It was just a life-changing experience. The first day that I sparred Floyd and the first couple days I sparred Floyd, as the camp progressed and I got to work with him more, I got to meet more people.”

Seeing his life change…

“My life literally changed in a matter of a couple weeks because of him. Life-changing, life-learning opportunity. Obviously, any camp I will be in with Floyd will never be as same as the very first one. Floyd is about to go into camp now and I’m about to be a part of it in some way, shape, or form, given that I’m one of his fighters, but it won’t compare to the first one. It was life-changing. I was an amateur and I’m sharing the ring with the best fighter in the world and one of the greatest fighters to ever do it. I was able to see with my own eyes why he is who he is, why it’s all going on, and why his life is the way it is. I was seeing it with my own eyes. It was just God blessing me, God finally saying ‘I see you grinding kid, let me open this door for your real quick’. And I’m going to try my best to take full advantage of that.”

Please check out the links below for Chris Robinson's exclusive coverage of Luis Arias plus related photo galleries...

Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com and www.HustleBoss.com