“The Destroyer” wants “The Bronze Bomber”
Anthony Joshua's former opponent Andy Ruiz Jr. (34-2, 22KOs) has come out to reiterate his desire to face Tyson Fury's victim Deontay Wilder (42-2-1, 41KOs) in what would be an epic heavyweight showdown in America.
Ruiz was almost lined up for a PPV event with Wilder in the final third of 2020, until “The Bronze Bomber” had a court hearing rule in his favour forcing WBC titleholder Tyson Fury to honour the rematch clause in their previous contract.
The third installment of Fury vs. Wilder was initially set for the summer of 2021 but was eventually pushed back to October this year due to Tyson catching COVID.
Once the battle finally commenced, it was one of the best world heavyweight title fights of this generation, with “The Gypsy King” beating his bitter rival for a final time to retain his green and gold belt, which was the first time he had ever defended a world title in his career.
Now Wilder is free to negotiate his next move, with trainer Malik Scott confirming the Alabaman plans to fight on despite lossing his last two fights and world title status, and Mexican-American star Ruiz is on board with reigniting those previous plans.
“I think that would be an amazing fight,” 32-year-old Ruiz told Brian Custer on The Last Stand Podcast.
“We’re both a part of the same team, and it’s all business. I wouldn’t mind getting in the ring with him.
“I feel I could beat him. We’ve got to get it on,” he added.
With the Californian last in action in May, six months ago now, he is eyeing a return in the New Year, while his PBC promotional stablemate is not planning to fight before March 2022.
If the pair do collide in 2022, then with their lofty world rankings, the victor could well be in with a good shot at whoever the heavyweight beltholders are at the time. Wilder is currently WBC #1 and WBA #5 and Ruiz is WBC #2; WBA #10; IBF #11; and WBO #3.
Ruiz's former victim-turned-conqueror Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22KOs) is due to rematch with Oleksandr Usyk (18-0, 13KOs) in March next year, who is the only other man to defeat the Brit.
Fury will either face the winner of that return match or be forced to meet mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte (28-2, 19KOs) around the same time next year. If both champions win their bouts then an undisputed heavyweight clash will be called for.
Joe Joyce (13-0, 12KOs) is WBO mandatory and also WBC #3 so he appears to be at the front of the queue, which is steadily getting longer every day, even former titleholders Joseph Parker and Charles Martin are back in the line again.
The heavyweight division is well and truly congested right now, but that can only be a good thing with the prospect of so many fantastic fights that can be made. Having no shortage of worthy contenders is not a bad problem to have.
Ruiz rose to stardom overnight by blasting out unbeaten unified champion AJ in New York in June 2019 to dismiss the myth he was unbeatable.
It was regarded as one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, but it was short-lived because during the return bout in Dubai, Ruiz was no longer the hungry contender he once was and had piled on weight and not trained properly, distracted by the new found and fortunes as the champion, and was completely outboxed that night in Saudi Arabia.
Now he turns his attention to Wilder, with the winner unarguably finding themselves with a great claim to any one of the heavyweight world titles afterwards.
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