In an all Mexican-American clash that is likely to entertain while it lasts, former unified world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. will now face three-time title challenger Chris Arreola.
Sources have told ESPN.com and The Athletic that the bout has been confirmed and will take place later this year as Ruiz plots his path back to the top of the division with new trainer Eddy Reynoso.
“It’s a planned fight. They pretty much know that the plan is to fight each other. We don’t have a set date for that or know what show we’re going to put it on yet,” a Premier Boxing Champions source told Steve Kim of ESPN.com after The Athletic first broke the news.
Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) scored a memorable seven round stoppage of Anthony Joshua to win the WBA Super, WBO and IBF titles in a stunning upset in June 2019. Yet six months later, after enjoying the good life rather than the gym life, he lost the belts on the cards in a rematch in Saudi Arabia.
The game Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs and 2 ND) has lost a trio of WBC title shots to Deontay Wilder, Bermane Stiverne and Vitali Klitschko. He had toyed with retirement but told Sky Sports in July: “That’s the only fight that’s very enticing, not only to myself, also for the boxing fans. I think the boxing fans will love a boxing fight with two Mexican heavyweights that are going at it.
“We’re both Californians, we’re both in the rankings, we’re both fan-friendly fighters and we’re both of Mexican heritage. We all know what Mexican fighters bring to the table. They bring non-stop excitement. We just come forward and we just love to fight.
“I think it will be a great fight between me and Andy.”