Is the heavyweight division in America dead?

[al-Xander]

It isn't dead. Deontay Wilder, Ruiz Jr, Jared Anderson, Michael Hunter (still a major threat to many in my opinion), Torres Jr, and Franklin can give a lot of guys problems and good work.

Many of these guys you mention are looking for fights outside of the US. They, of course, would prefer to fight in the US, but they probably expect big paychecks, which networks can't afford to pay. Frank Sanchez, for example, would rather fight a cab driver than Arreola who himself was on the same card. Why didn't Sanchez and Arreola fight each other, instead? Because they want big money.

[al-Xander]

Most HW guys are bad at self-promotion resulting in less money to go around. As a result, most top big athletes are opting for other sports instead of boxing. The main reason for Wilder-Ruiz not happening is that there are more lucrative options elsewhere.

Wilder vs Ruiz is big, relatively speaking, but it's looking like it will never happen.

[War Room]

What exactly is the reason why Wilder vs Ruiz didn't materialize?

I believe Wilder is cracked from his last loss which was a vicious knockout. We saw nothing in the Helsinki fight because it ended so quickly. But Team Wilder knows Wilder and if Ruiz does any sort of business to Wilder, career is over. Why put Wilder at risk when he can maneuver within smoke & mirros to get a megafight with AJ and roll the dice one last time.

[Sid-Knee]

Deontay Wilder is the 2nd best heavyweight in the world.

He's also the 2nd best heavyweight since Klitschko.

Wilder isn't even in the top 10 in the world right now, let alone the 2nd best since Wlad. Haha.

How did he achieve that with him not beating a single world class fighter? How is he better than Fury after Fury beat him 3 out of 3?

[Sid-Knee]

So you’re saying Tyson Fury hasn’t beaten anyone then?

If you read it properly, he said Wilder is the 2nd best Heavyweight since Klitschko. Wlad takes the number 1 spot with Wilder taking the number 2 spot.

Fury has fought who he knew he could beat. Wilder was perfect. It's only when it came to the actual best in AJ and Usyk that he didn't want to know.

[Sid-Knee]

Yea…it’s been dead for awhile…I’ve been over this many times and I could go into it further if you need to….the best hw sized American athletes don’t box…there more money in other sports…..back when Lawrence Taylor was the highest paid defensive player in the league it was around 2 mil a year…guys like Tyson bowe and evander were making big bucks….now it’s the other way around….look at the premium on pass rushers and pass protectors in the nfl…..guys in the nba playing 15-20 mins a night are making 15 mil. Year off the bench…..how long did it take and how hard was it for even wilder to start seeing 2-3 mil a fight?

think about it

Wilder had big paydays offered to him. He was just too scared to take them. He wanted to fight bums and live a delusional lie instead. It wasn't about money. It was about Wilder's cowardice.

[suffolkbull3]

uhmmmm what does the op mean by is the heavyweight division in ”AMERICA” dead???

if you havent noticed, the heavyweight division in dtbis entire world has been dead for quite some time now!!! You can argue that it died 20 years ago!

[al-Xander]

I believe Wilder is cracked from his last loss which was a vicious knockout. We saw nothing in the Helsinki fight because it ended so quickly. But Team Wilder knows Wilder and if Ruiz does any sort of business to Wilder, career is over. Why put Wilder at risk when he can maneuver within smoke & mirros to get a megafight with AJ and roll the dice one last time.

I think he's only after Joshua now. It's a money fight. Ruiz is a low reward, but not exactly high risk.

[Pigeons]

Wilder isn't even in the top 10 in the world right now, let alone the 2nd best since Wlad. Haha.

How did he achieve that with him not beating a single world class fighter? How is he better than Fury after Fury beat him 3 out of 3?

Not best since Wlad, 2nd best. 1. Fury 2. Wilder.

[daggum]

Not best since Wlad, 2nd best. 1. Fury 2. Wilder.

based on what though? joshuas resume is much better. even andy ruizs' resume is much better. a guy like joe joyce probably has a resume at least as good. you are just overrating wilder. he was hyped based on potential but he hasnt fulfilled that potential yet. if you compare resumes he doesnt stand out at all. hes in a pack with 5-6 others and well behind several people.