Andy Ruiz Jr and Deontay Wilder’s final eliminator order from the WBC has been rescinded following protracted and failed negotiations.
It’s a disappointment for fans that the two former heavyweight champions look unlikely to face off, with disputes over purses the main sticking point.
Despite the fight seemingly now out of the question, Ruiz is still trying to make it happen.
After saying that he would face off with Wilder for a cool $10 million, the Mexican fighter revealed on Instagram Live how far off that was from the initial terms put forward.
“They’re trying to pay me what I made for my last fight. It doesn’t make sense. You’re climbing up the ladders and then you get a big task. You’re supposed to beat him. I beat [Ortiz] and the purse is supposed to go higher and higher and higher. That’s the way it goes. If you don’t know, then don’t say s***.”
As per reports, Ruiz earned $1 million to fight Luis Ortiz in October of 2022 – a bout he won by unanimous decision, dropping the Cuban heavyweight twice on the way there.
Wilder’s side have been vocal about the fact they believe Ruiz was pricing himself out of the fight, with the knockout artist even warning his fellow fighter that he will now be ‘on the shelf.’
Instead, Wilder is expected to move ahead straight into a fight with Anthony Joshua in early 2024, although the enthusiastic updates from the Saudi Arabia planned fight have slowed now as well.