Deontay Wilder will ‘KILL’ Andy Ruiz Jr if pair meet in world title eliminator next, fears heavyweight rival Luis Ortiz
DEONTAY WILDER will “kill” Andy Ruiz Jr. if the pair fight, claims Luis Ortiz.
The Bronze Bomber returned last weekend with a trademark bang, knocking out Robert Helenius inside three minutes in New York.
The 36-year-old is now ready to negotiate a super-fight at Wembley next year against Anthony Joshua.
But Ruiz, who won and then lost the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles to AJ in 2019, has also declared his desire to face the KO artist Wilder.
Wilder’s stunning win over Helenius was a WBC eliminator and now sets him up to face Ruiz, 33, for the mandatory challenger spot to Tyson Fury.
That is after the Mexican’s victory via unanimous decision over 43-year-old Ortiz in September.
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The two are both signed to Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable, making negotiations for the showdown that much easier.
However, Ortiz has predicted that Ruiz could suffer much more than just defeat if he faces Wilder.
He told Blue Blood Boxing TV: “He’ll kill Andy Ruiz.”
Wilder has also suggested that he hopes to bypass Ruiz in order to face WBA, WBO, and IBF champ Oleksandr Usyk.
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Ortiz also believes that his would be the best route for the ex-WBC king – and that Ruiz needs to get back in the ring with him first before even thinking about battling anyone else.
He said: “Andy Ruiz needs to give me the rematch. Give me the rematch.”
Following his comeback win, Wilder said: “I’m down for whatever, whether it’s Andy Ruiz, or Usyk or whoever. Lets bring it on.
“Deontay Wilder is back. The excitement in the heavyweight division is back. There’s no heavyweight division without Deontay Wilder.”