Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr lined up to fight this year after devastating losses to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
DEONTAY WILDER is reportedly being lined up to fight Andy Ruiz Jr this year.
The two heavyweight boxers are coming back from devastating world title defeats, and both under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable.
Ruiz Jr shocked the world when he battered Anthony Joshua in June 2019 to become unified champ.
But six months of partying saw him come in unfit and overweight in the rematch and he was easily outpointed by the Brit.
Wilder drew with Tyson Fury in their first meeting in December 2018.
Their rematch proved one of the most memorable nights in the sport when Fury pummeled the previously undefeated American into a seventh-round stoppage.
And according to a World Boxing News report in March, Wilder and a slimmed-down Ruiz Jr are on the ‘road to redemption’ and a blockbuster fight ‘in late 2021’.
First up for Ruiz Jr, however, returns against Chris Arreola on Saturday.
Arreola was knocked out by ex-WBC king Wilder in 2016.
The 40-year-old has only fought three times since that defeat, with his current record standing at 38–6–1 with two no-contests.
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Like Ruiz, Arreola has not been seen since December 2019, in a losing effort against Adam Kownacki.
And Wilder has recently returned to training having posted a video hitting the pads with ex-opponent Malik Scott, now his assistant coach.
The 35-year-old, who claimed a heavy ringwalk suit and tampered water led to his defeat to Fury, did have a rematch clause.
But the Gypsy King’s team insist that has expired. And while Wilder is still pursuing that case, he might have to tread a different path for now.