Should Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr get it on, there’s perhaps no better man to predict the outcome than Chris Arreola.
He faced Wilder in Alabama back in 2016, losing via corner retirement in the eighth round after being floored in the fourth. More recently, Arreola took Ruiz the distance, even knocking him down, but would lose via unanimous decision in 2021.
The two former champions have been ordered by the WBC to face one another in a final eliminator – the winner being first in line for a shot at Tyson Fury’s WBC title.
Despite stalled negotiations, reports from behind the scenes are finally looking positive for the fight to happen. Arreola told ES News how he believes it will play out.
“It should be a good fight because Andy has balls like that. Wilder’s Wilder, but he has that hand that will just knock you out. Personally, you know, I’m thinking Wilder. You can’t teach size, and if you stay on the outside Wilder’s just gonna knock you out.
It’s crazy because sometimes you see those punches that he throws without even leverage and he knocks someone out, like how did that happen? That’s Wilder for you.”
As for that power, Arreola had an interesting way of describing it.
“The best way I can describe it is like a whip. The power is at the end of the punch. You feel it like ‘wow, what the f**k?'”
With Ruiz’s best work coming on the inside, and Wilder well known for knocking out any man who gets within range, it’s one of the most intriguing bouts to be made in the heavyweight division. Can ‘The Bronze Bomber’ add a 43 knockout to his record, or will the Mexican shock the world again?