Deontay Wilder to face Andy Ruiz Jr. in WBC Eliminator
Deontay Wilder's (43-2-1, 42KOs) trainer, Malik Scott, has disclosed that the American heavyweight will most likely face Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2, 22KOs) in his next fight, due to be around March-April time.
“It's down to the mystery opponent and Andy Ruiz Jr. Since AJ had made up his mind and does not want to fight Deontay right now, we're down to Andy Ruiz and the mystery guy. The mystery fighter is not as guaranteed to happen as the Ruiz fight. If you're looking at it from the business perspective, it's most likely going to be the mandatory shot, Ruiz,” Scott shared with Best Sports Betting Canada.
“We could be going in March or early April but it really depends. The only thing I can say at the moment is Ruiz is mandated but Deontay is big-time boxing, and when you have a big-time boxer like Deontay and a mandatory going on at the same time – and there's another bigger fighter – step a side happens some time, you never know. Business is willing to be made to make bigger fights happen.”
Ruiz Jr. won his WBC Eliminator with a unanimous decision over Luis Ortiz following three knockdowns last September. The first ever Mexican heavyweight world champion showed his willingness to meet former WBC Heavyweight World Champion Wilder immediately after his victory.
“Let's do it. Let's get it on. I'm hungry and I want to be champion again and bring that belt back to Mexico,” he said.
Sitting ringside, Wilder replied, “Deontay Wilder is back and I'm always looking for great exciting fights for the fans. If Andy Ruiz Jr. is what's next, then I'm ready to get it on.”
Scott is already very confident his heavyweight charge will overcome the former unified world champion, “Andy Ruiz presents absolutely no threat to a disciplined Deontay Wilder. I’ve been going over my notes and from film study I see Andy Ruiz has a problem with disciplined fighters. The only hope Andy Ruiz has is if you give him an opportunity. But if you stick to a game plan he’s easy to shut down. He’s a good fighter but we all have our loopholes, Andy’s is he can’t beat disciplined fighters.
“When AJ fought him the first time he was not as disciplined as when he fought him the second time. The minute AJ fought with a systemised game plan it was a shut out. An old Chris Arreola, who got with Joe Goosen and stuck with a game plan, beat Ruiz in my opinion by two rounds. Every time I look at the tape, I have Arreola winning by two rounds, it definitely wasn’t as wide as the judges had it.
“Andy Ruiz is going to come to Deontay and when he does he puts himself at risk. We’re going to make him reach, he has to, we’re taller. When he reaches he’s going to pay like he’s never paid before.
“A disciplined, systemised Deontay Wilder has no problem with Andy Ruiz. Does that mean Andy is a bad fighter, absolutely not, but Deontay with a game plan; high hand up, chin behind the left knee, patience knowing he’s going to have his big moments – it’s a shutout, a painful, scary shutout.”
The 'Bronze Bomber' delivered a devastating blow to the Finnish boxer, Robert Helenius in the first round and won the WBC Eliminator fight last year. “It was impressive. It was a demonstration of power,” Scott proudly said.
With both Ruiz and Wilder winning their last fights, they are now due to meet in a WBC Final Eliminator, with the winner due a shot at the titleholder Tyson Fury next, who is in the midst of negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk for the Undisputed heavyweight titles.
