Former world heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jnr could meet in the ring before the end of the year as they look to get their careers back on track.
According to World Boxing News, the fighters are being lined up to face each other in November or December – with the winner potentially getting another shot at a world title.
Wilder hasn’t fought since being brutally stopped by Tyson Fury in February 2020, while Ruiz has been out of the ring since losing his rematch with Anthony Joshua in December 2019.
The Bronze Bomber lost his WBC belt to the Gypsy King in their rematch, with Joshua regaining his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles from Ruiz in Saudi Arabia.
The Mexican and Wilder are both out of the world title picture at present, with Fury and Joshua on the verge of agreeing a mega two-fight deal to face each other twice this year.
However, promoter Al Haymon is said to be keen to pit his two biggest stars against each other as they look to work their way back to the top.
Ruiz, who recently stunned fans with his new, slimmed-down look, is set to face Chris Arreola in his comeback fight in April.
Wilder, meanwhile, looks likely to face either Charles Martin or Robert Helenius when he returns to action this summer after more than a year out.
It is claimed that the pair could then meet at a “world famous venue” late this year, providing they come through their warm-up fights unscathed.
The bout between Ruiz, who stunned Joshua to become unified world champion in 2019, and Wilder could be a final eliminator for a world title shot.
And there is even the chance that the heavyweight showdown could be for a vacant title, should Fury or Joshua be forced to drop a belt after their first fight.