Luis Ortiz is set to fight for the first time since defeat to Deontay Wilder against Scott Alexander on the proposed Andy Ruiz Jr-Chris Arreola bill on November 7, according to reports.
Former two-time Heavyweight world title challenger, Ortiz (31-2, 26 KOs) was stopped by Wilder for the second time last November, losing by seventh round knockout in an unsuccessful bid for the WBC Heavyweight world title in Las Vegas.
The 41-year-old, Cuban who was also beaten by Wilder for the same belt in 2018 in his only other professional defeat, is set to face the LA-based Heavyweight, Alexander according to Mike Coppinger of the Athletic, with Keith Idec of Boxing Scene reporting that the fight will land on the November 7th card.
Alexander (16-3-2, 8 KOs) has registered two victories since defeat to the experienced Travis Kauffman by majority decision in June 2018.
The PBC on FOX bill is set to be headlined by former unified world Heavyweight champion, Ruiz Jr who returns against Arreola, following his unanimous decision to defeat to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia in December.
The 30-year-old, who claimed the WBA ‘Super,’ WBO, IBF & IBO world titles after his stunning victory over the Brit in New York in June 2019, could not follow up the feat in the rematch and has since switched trainers to Canelo Alvarez’s coach, Eddy Reynoso, following his split with Manny Robles.
Arreola, was defeated by Adam Kownacki last August by unanimous decision with the pair breaking CompuBox records for the most combined punches thrown (2,172) and punches landed (667) in a Heavyweight bout.
The 39-year-old has fallen short in three previous world title attempts to Vitali Klitschko, Bermane Stiverne and most recently Deontay Wilder, with the Californian retiring after eight rounds in July 2016.
The showdown has been mooted for November 7, but there is reportedly scope for Ruiz’s clash against Arreola to be moved, with Errol Spence’s return against Danny Garcia on November 21 in play.
