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Andy Ruiz Jr vs Deontay Wilder Moves Closer With WBC Decision

Written by Shaun Brown on 28th July 2022.

Andy Ruiz Jr And Deontay Wilder

The September 4 heavyweight encounter between Andy Ruiz Jr and Luis Ortiz is now a World Title eliminator.

The Crypto.Com Arena, Los Angeles will stage the fight that pits the former Heavyweight champion against the two-time title challenger.

And now the bout takes on even more significance with news that the WBC has ordered it as an eliminator.

As things stand Tyson Fury is the current WBC champion with former title holder Deontay Wilder the number one challenger.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ has already been linked to a fight against Ruiz and with both under the same promotional banner the likely pay-per-view shouldn’t be too difficult to make.

Should Ruiz beat Ortiz then a potential final eliminator against Wilder could be enough to entice the Alabama fighter back to the sport.

Since losing to Fury in their third fight last year the 37-year-old has yet to make a decision on his boxing future.

His manager Shelly Finkel believes Wilder will return but refuted claims it would be against Robert Helenius in October.

Ortiz has already fought for the WBC title on two occasions. First in March 2018 at the Barclays Centre, Brooklyn. The Fight of the Year contender saw the Cuban dropped three times before being stopped in the 10th round.

Eighteen months later the two met again, this time at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, where Wilder’s nuclear punching power ended matters earlier in the 7th.

The defeated 43-year-old then won his next two fights including a stoppage win over former IBF champion Charlies Martin in January.

Ruiz is best remembered for his 21st century upset against Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden, New York in June 2019. Four knockdowns were shared, two of which came in the 7th and final round of the fight.

Six months later Ruiz lost his three titles in tame fashion in Diriyah when a thinking man’s performance from Joshua earned him a points win and become a two-time heavyweight champion.

The 32-year-old returned to winning ways in 2021 by beating Chris Arreola.