By Luis Sandoval

Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola will be making his return to HBO on January 26th at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA as he takes on Bername Stiverne in a WBC Semi-Final elimination bout.

BoxingScene caught up with Arreola and spoke to him about his upcoming bout. While Arreola has been in with some big names, he admits Stiverne is one of the toughest assignments of his career.

“I think he's up there with the Tomasz Adameks. Not Klitschko but up there with the Tomasz Adameks because he has a lot of amateur experience. And that's something you cannot take [lightly]. I'm expecting a tough fight but I'm going to come out victorious. I think I'm too skilled, I'm too strong and I'm too motivated to lose” said the Mexican Heavyweight.

 

It’s been a long road back to the top for Arreola who had a busy 2011 as he fought five times but none of his fights were aired on major networks. Arreola understood he needed to repay his dues and work his way back to the top after losing to Vitali Klitschko and Tomasz Adamek. But being back on HBO and the big stage is no pressure to Chris who feels that’s exactly where he belongs.

 

“I feel no pressure. I'm more excited and relieved man because I belong on there. I belong on the big stage, I belong on HBO. I belong on Showtime. I belong there man. I'm not a club fighter. And I was my own downfall. It was my fault. I lost and I lost a lot of fans because of me because I thought my sh*t didn't stink and come to find out, it kind of did smell” said the always candid Arreola.

 

His fight with Steverne was originally won via purse bid by Don King but when King couldn’t make the fight materialize, the fight went to the second highest bidder which was Arreola’s promoter Goosen Tutor. This is a homecoming of sorts for Arreola whose long road has finally led him back to where he once was and he plans to stay there this time.

 

You can follow Luis Sandoval on Twitter @truewest007. You can also tune in to BoxingScene’s official audio show The Boxing Lab every Tuesday from 6-8PM PST with hosts Ernest Gabion, Luis Sandoval, and Ryan Burton.