Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr were ordered in November 2022 to fight a WBC final eliminator that would see the winner announced as mandatory for a shot at current champion, Tyson Fury.
There was initial buzz around the match-up between the sanctioning body’s number one – Wilder – and number two – Ruiz – but nothing materialised.
The two former champions went quiet until early summer, when it was revealed that talks had restarted. Ruiz Jr’s team then accused Wilder’s of sending a lowball offer, and another inevitable collapse ensued.
The sanctioning body today released a statement confirming that the order was now defunct following the failure to successfully make the fight.
“The WBC Board of governors has ruled to cancel the order which was issued during the last annual convention calling for a final elimination bout between Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz jr to determine the mandatory challenger of the division.
The WBC will evaluate the current situation in the division in order to review the viable options and if necessary, issue a new ruling during the WBC annual convention to be held in Uzbekistan in November.”
Whilst Ruiz is seemingly without a dance partner, Wilder is deep in talks to face Anthony Joshua in early 2024.
That would be number one against number three, and a good alternative to ensure Fury finally a mandatory challenger after likely not defending his title for 2023 entire.
Instead of putting his belt on the line against a ranked contender, ‘The Gypsy King’ will face MMA star Francis Ngannou in a crossover contest on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The same nation will play host to Wilder-Joshua should it be finalised, although the American has left the idea of a fight before then open.