FRISCO, Texas – If the version of Andy Ruiz Jr. that upset Anthony Joshua showed up to fight Deontay Wilder, Eddie Hearn envisions something similar happening to Wilder.
According to Joshua’s promoter, a focused, at least reasonably conditioned Ruiz would definitively defeat Wilder because he persistently applies pressure. Wilder didn’t handle that tactic well when he fought Tyson Fury in a rematch Wilder lost by seventh-round technical knockout February 22 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has exercised his contractual right to an immediate third pay-per-view fight against England’s Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs), which tentatively has been scheduled for July 18 in Las Vegas. If Wilder wins that third encounter and decides to make an optional WBC title defense against Ruiz, Hearn is convinced Ruiz would become a two-time heavyweight champion.
“Andy Ruiz, on point, would absolutely brutalize Deontay Wilder,” Hearn told BoxingScene.com. “He would cause him fits, nightmares, because it’s what he does. He puts you under pressure and he starts backing you up. And Wilder wouldn’t be able to deal with it. He can still knock anyone out at any time, but Ruiz takes a great shot. That’s why I was thinking about that particular fight, thinking that’s the worst fight for Deontay Wilder. That fight’s not even under consideration, but I was just thinking about it. Anyone that can punch and can apply pressure, with fast hands and movement, will beat Wilder.”
The 30-year-old Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) is expected to return to the ring sometime this summer. His opponent hasn’t been chosen, but he stated during an interview that aired as part of the most recent episode of FOX’s “Inside PBC Boxing” that he won’t fight Cuban contender Luis Ortiz next.
Ruiz lost back the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles to England’s Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) in their immediate rematch December 7 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The Imperial, California, native has been heavily criticized for not taking training seriously for their second fight, for which Ruiz came in 15½ pounds heavier, 283½ pounds, than he was for their first fight.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.