Andy Ruiz Jr is has agreed a deal in principle to face Chris Arreola later this year, according to reports.
Former unified Heavyweight world champion, Ruiz Jr has been out of the ring since his unanimous decision loss to Anthony Joshua in their rematch in Saudi Arabia in December.
The 30-year-old, who has since switched trainers to Eddy Reynoso, coach of Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia amongst others is set to make his return against Arreola towards the end of 2020, according to Mike Coppinger of The Athletic.
Arreola, a former three-time Heavyweight world title challenger was beaten by Adam Kownacki last August in a hard-fought points defeat, in which the pair broke CompuBox records for the most combined punches thrown (2,172) and punches landed (667) in a heavyweight bout.
The 39-year-old is reaching the conclusion of his career having fallen short in three attempts at the WBC world title against Vitali Klitschko, Bermane Stiverne and most recently Deontay Wilder, with the Californian retiring after eight rounds in July 2016.
Victory for Ruiz Jr would set him on the path back towards a world title opportunity and most likely an eliminator, with the Mexican-American ranked in the top five of every governing body.
Ruiz Jr shocked the world last June, climbing off the canvas to stop Joshua in seven stunning rounds at Madison Square Garden in one of the biggest heavyweight upsets of all time.
However, he could not repeat the feat in December, comfortably beaten in the rematch and admitting in the aftermath he had not prepared sufficiently, under then trainer Manny Robles.
Ruiz Jr and Arreola are both signed with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) with a date and venue set to be finalised.
