Tyson Fury’s highly-anticipated fight with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title is in serious jeopardy, with the clash now looking unlikely to happen next.
As the fight date of April 29th draws near, the chances of seeing the first undisputed heavyweight champion crowned since Lennox Lewis is fading into the distance.
In light of this, Andy Ruiz Jr has been suggested as a potential alternative for Fury. The Gypsy King’s brother Shane told Behind The Gloves that Ruiz would be a perfect backup plan.
“If the undisputed fight can’t get made, Tyson still needs to fight and I think Andy Ruiz Jr is a good opponent, a good name, and is in good form.
Fans would want to see that fight.”
Ruiz, who famously upset Anthony Joshua back in 2019, is a good name and is in good form, having defeated Cuban veteran Luis Ortiz in his last fight.
Ruiz could be a man in demand, as a fight with former Fury foe, Deontay Wilder, is also on the horizon. The pair were ordered to fight in a final eliminator for a WBC world title shot, currently held by Fury. Ruiz is now officially a free agent after parting ways with Al Haymon’s PBC.
Talks between Fury and Usyk are entering crunch time, with an announcement expected in the next few days, one way or another. Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has dampened hopes of the fight happening, saying it was now ‘unlikely’ and that Fury was asking for too much money.
If it’s not to be Usyk next for ‘The Gypsy King’ then apart from Ruiz, Fury has also been linked to Joe Joyce, Francis Ngannou, and even a fourth fight with Deontay Wilder.