The former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. will look to rebound from his loss back in December of 2019 as he faces the veteran Chris Arreola on May 1st in the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson California. It will headline a card that will include three other fights in a pay-per-view telecast that starts at 9pm ET/6pm PT through Fox.

Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) made history on June 1st 2019 when as a replacement opponent he upset Anthony Joshua to become the first fighter of Mexican descent to win the heavyweight title. He scored a 7th round stoppage victory in Madison Square Garden and won the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles. Months later, Ruiz had the rematch against Joshua in Saudi Arabia and lost a wide decision. He had not been in the ring since that defeat, and he made changes in his camp. After being with Manny Robles for years, Ruiz has now acquired the training services of 2019 Trainer of the Year Eddy Reynoso. The change in his camp has brought a lot of eyes towards him and what he could do in the ring, and May 1st will give fans the opportunity to see the results.

“Training with coach Eddy in his gym has been amazing,” Ruiz said. “I’m around great fighters like Canelo Alvarez and we’re putting in the work so that I can look better than ever.”

The resident of Imperial, California respects Arreola as he has been familiar with what his opponent has done in the ring as a pro. Ruiz will use that to try to get the upper hand in their bout.

“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.”

Arreola (38-6-1, 33 KOs) has been a contender for a world title on multiple occasions. In 2009, he had his first shot at a title against Vitali Klitschko. It ended up being the first time that Arreola lost a pro fight. He was unsuccessful on two other attempts in 2014 and 2016. Now after an action packed bout against Adam Kownacki in 2019, the Escondido, California native looks to be back in the hunt for a title with a win over Andy Ruiz.

“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.”

The work that Arreola is referring to is being in camp with renowned trainer Joe Goossen, who had been in his corner for that fight against Kownacki. Goossen has trained many fighters such as Diego Corrales, Gabe and Rafael Ruelas, Shane Mosley, and Sergey Lipinets. It is what has Arreola feeling good about his upcoming bout against Ruiz.

The co-feature bout will have former lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr. (28-1-1, 19 KOs) going up against Abel Ramos (26-4-2, 20 KOs) in the welterweight division, while the other two bouts included in the pay-per-view telecast are Jesus Ramos (15-0, 14 KOs) versus Javier Molina (22-3, 9 KOs) and super welterweight contender Sebastian Fundora (16-0-1, 11 KOs) against Jorge Cota (30-4, 27 KOs).