Deontay Wilder, the former reigning WBC heavyweight champion, recently spoke out about his potential upcoming opponent, Andy Ruiz Jr. Wilder, who is known for his powerful punches and knockout victories, came off a huge KO victory against Robert Helenius in October 2022.
In an interview with Elie Seckbach of ESNews, Wilder stated that while he recognizes Ruiz as a good fighter with speed and bravery, he also believes that Ruiz will need extra help in order to defeat him.
Wilder also discussed his thoughts on another heavyweight contender, Anthony Joshua. Wilder stated that Joshua “doesn’t want to fight me; it’s plain and clear” and pointed out that Joshua did not accept a $50 million offer to fight him in the past. Wilder believes that this is evidence that Joshua is avoiding a fight with him.
Andy Ruiz Jr. is a former unified heavyweight champion, who became the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion in history when he defeated Anthony Joshua in June 2019. Ruiz Jr. was outpointed in 12 rounds by Joshua in their rematch in December 2019, but he remains a top contender in the heavyweight division.
The matchup between Wilder and Ruiz Jr. is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see if Ruiz will be able to overcome the odds and defeat Wilder. The fight if it happens will likely take place in 2023 and will most likely be a PPV PBC fight, and both fighters are currently in training for the highly-anticipated matchup.
