Deontay Wilder claims to have ‘told his people’ to make Andy Ruiz Jr available to face Anthony Joshua back in 2019.
Joshua’s first fight in America was close to collapse at the final minute when his opponent, Jarrell Miller, tested positive for banned substances. The brash Brooklynite was subsequently ruled out and replaced by former world title challenger, Andy Ruiz Jr.
Wilder – who was a rival of Joshua’s at the time but had never successfully negotiated a fight – now claims that he was instrumental in setting that up.
Speaking to 78SPORTSTV, he said he felt Ruiz would beat Joshua.
“Let’s tell the truth about Andy Ruiz. We [PBC] signed Andy Ruiz solely and designed to fight me, to keep me with an opponent to face, that was it.
Jarrell Miller ended up putting rat poison in himself and testing positive for steroids, so Joshua was looking for an opponent. They called us and they were asking for Ruiz.
So immediately I got the phone call about Eddie calling about Ruiz and they asked me what I want to do. Being the kind hearted guy that I am, looking out for fighters, I’ll reach down to help them. So for Ruiz I did the same thing for him, I blessed him in disguise, he doesn’t even know it.
I told my people to give Andy Ruiz to Joshua because I felt he would beat Joshua and change his life forever. Andy Ruiz would never ever of got that opportunity if it wasn’t for me.”
Wilder was just one month gone from beating Dominic Breazeale via devastating first round knockout, keeping the WBC belt whilst Joshua trained to defend the WBA, WBO and IBF.
Ruiz Jr sent shockwaves through the division in Madison Square Garden when the time came, standing from a knockdown himself before catching ‘AJ’ coming in to finish the job.
The Brit miraculously survived two counts in that third round, and battled until the seventh before he was put over twice more. The fight was done, and Ruiz became the first ever Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.
If things play out as intended, Wilder could face both Ruiz and Joshua in his next two fights – although the negotiations with Ruiz seem to have hit a stalemate over purses.
Regardless, he’s expected to step through the ropes with ‘AJ’ in early 2024.