Andy Ruiz Jr.’s return is set.
The former heavyweight titleholder, who lost his belts in his rematch with Anthony Joshua, will face longtime contender and fellow Mexican-American Chris Arreola on a pay-per-view card May 1 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) shocked the boxing world by stopping Joshua to win the titles in June 2019 only to come in 15½ pounds heavier and lose them by a decision in the rematch six months later.
That was Ruiz’s last fight. Since then, he has been working alongside Canelo Alvarez with trainer Eddy Reynoso and reportedly has his weight under control.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring on May 1,” Ruiz said. “Training with coach Eddy in his gym has been amazing. I’m around great fighters like Canelo Alvarez, and we’re putting in the work so that I can look better than ever.
“I have known Chris Arreola since I turned professional. He’s a Mexican warrior just like me, and I expect him to come at me with everything he’s got. This is going to be an action-packed event between fighters who do not go backwards.
“I will be smart and ready to do whatever it takes to get the win and put myself back in position to become heavyweight champion again.”
Arreloa (38-6-1, 33 KOs) is a three-time world title challenger who also has had issues with discipline.
However, the 40-year-old from Los Angeles seems to have developed a strong work ethic late in his career under trainer Joe Goossen. He set a division record by throwing 1,125 punches in his competitive loss to Adam Kownacki in August 2019, his last fight.
“Training with Joe Goossen is tedious, hard work,” Arreola said. “We’re doing everything that we can so that when Ruiz and I face each other, fight fans will get treated to an all-out war between the two best Mexican-American heavyweights to ever step in the ring.
“This matchup should be a fan friendly fight, and I plan on winning behind all of my hard work.”
Also on the card, former lightweight titleholder Omar Figueroa Jr. (28-1-1, 19 KOs) will face Abel Ramos (26-4-2, 20 KOs) in a welterweight bout, and 6-foot-5½ junior middleweight prospect Sebastian Fundora (16-0-1, 11 KOs) will take on Jorge Cota (30-4, 27 KOs).
Preceding the pay-per-view card, on Fox, Erislandy Lara (27-3-3, 15 KOs) will face Thomas LaManna (30-4-1, 12 KOs) in a middleweight fight.
