ANDY RUIZ JR may be back in the running for a fight against Deontay Wilder.
With all talk for an end of year heavyweight extravaganza in the Middle East featuring Wilder, Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury continuing no new fights have officially been announced for the four.
Since losing to Tyson Fury in the penultimate round of their trilogy bout 18 months ago Wilder has had just under three minutes of competitive action. That came last October when ‘The Bronze Bomber’ knocked out ‘The Nordic Nightmare’ Robert Helenius in the first round.
Fury himself hasn’t fought since beating Dereck Chisora six months ago while Usyk is scheduled to face Daniel Dubois in Poland on August 26. Of the four leading heavyweights only Joshua has fought in 2022. His debut with new trainer Derrick James resulted in a 12-round lacklustre win.
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott told ES News that Ruiz Jr, who defeated Joshua four years ago only to lose the rematch, is a possibility and a fight he would entertain.
“That’s just the buzz fight right now,” he said.
“Looking like the route we may end up going but Deontay’s in a position where so many big fights is lined up that anything, any opponent could possibly change. Andy Ruiz is definitely one of the main options right now and we’ll see where we land at. In my opinion I would love to see that at the Crypto Centre (in Los Angeles). I would love to see it.”
Ruiz Jr is another heavyweight plagued by inactivity. The 33-year-old has only fought twice since losing to Joshua in December 2019. His two bouts have resulted in victories against Chris Arreola and then Luis Ortiz.
What of Wilder v Joshua, though? Each week the fight seemingly edges closer and closer to becoming a reality for December in Saudi Arabia. The Brit’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said ‘AJ’ will fight on August 12 in London regardless of how the Wilder negotiations play out.
“Still got Anthony Joshua on the menu,” Scott said. “Anthony Joshua’s still on the menu. Fury, all of them on the menu and they will all get the same treatment.
“Some big fights. Exciting times. I just want things to get in motion. I like when things is in motion with Deontay. I like when big time fighters want to fight him.
“I would like that (Joshua) next. I’ve always been a big advocate of Deontay and AJ sharing the ring together. That hasn’t changed.”
