According to a report from Jake Donovan of BoxingScene.com, a Heavyweight bout between former unified world champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (33-2, 22 KOs) and veteran Chris Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) is set to take place on April 24.
The bout, which has been discussed for over a year, will take place on FOX pay-per-view at a location that has yet to be determined.
The 31-year-old Ruiz hasn’t competed since suffering a disappointing 12-round decision defeat to Anthony Joshua in December 2019 in Saudia Arabia. Six months before that loss, “The Destroyer” shocked the world by stopping Joshua in seven rounds to win the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO Heavyweight titles.
Despite his stunning victory in the first of two bouts against Joshua, Ruiz came in at a whopping 283 1/2 pounds for the rematch and was unable to mount much success.
Since that defeat, he has linked up with highly touted trainer Eddy Reynoso, who trains the likes of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Oscar Valdez, and Ryan Garcia, and appears to be in much better shape.
The 40-year-old Arreola, meanwhile, will also be coming off a rather long layoff when he and Ruiz meet, as he hasn’t fought since suffering a decision defeat to Adam Kownacki in an August 2019 bout that saw the two set a Heavyweight record by combining to throw 1,125 punches.
Before the loss against Kownacki, Arreola had won two-straight fights over Maurenzo Smith and Jean-Pierre Augustin after losing to former titleholder Deontay Wilder in 2016.
The bout between Ruiz and Arreola is expected to headline the April 24 PPV. Details on the undercard have not yet been announced.
