Top heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has applied pressure on former WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO world champion Andy Ruiz.
Whyte's promoter, Eddie Hearn, presented Ruiz with a very lucrative offer for a showdown in April.
Ruiz, who recently parted ways with trainer Manny Robles, suffered a twelve round unanimous decision loss to Anthony Joshua back in December in Saudi Arabia. Whyte saw action on the undercard, when he won a tough ten round decision over veteran Mariusz Wach.
Ruiz appears to be going in the direction of a softer touch for his next fight. At the moment he doesn't have a new trainer - although Teddy Atlas and Freddie Roach are being mentioned as possibilities.
In June of last year, Ruiz pulled off one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history when he dropped Joshua four times to secure a seventh round stoppage. But then he partied for two months, started training camp late, and entered the Joshua rematch out of shape and unprepared.
Whyte is not pleased with Ruiz's decision to go in another direction.
"No smoke, typical coward move from fake Mexican Andy Ruiz. A blob rolling away from a big payday. You’re all stomach and no heart. I am more Mexican then you. I am the can man. If you want it you can get it.. anytime, anywhere, can man," Whyte stated.
Whyte has several options being explored for his next fight, with former world champion Alexander Povetkin the likely frontrunner to secure the opportunity. Povetkin was also in action on the card in Saudi, when he fought to a hard-fought draw with rising contender Michael Hunter.
Should Whyte win his next fight, Ruiz could be an option for the fall.
Whyte is the WBC's interim champion. The winner of the February 22 rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, who battle for the full WBC strap, must face Whyte by February of 2021.