Oscar De La Hoya believes Deontay Wilder beats Anthony Joshua in two departments.
The multiple-weight world champ turned promoter was recently discussing Wilder facing Andy Ruiz Jr – a fight that has been ordered by the WBC as a final eliminator for a shot at Tyson Fury’s title.
Despite the formalities, there has been no date announced for the two PBC fighters to face off, but positive steps have been reported recently for a summer scrap.
A win would take Ruiz back into title contention following his brief stint as champion back in 2019 after a shock victory over Joshua. ‘AJ’ won his belts back in an immediate rematch.
It’s that upset that De La Hoya drew upon when discussing the Wilder-Ruiz fight, and led him to make the claim that the American was more passionate and smarter in the ring than Joshua.
He compared the two in an interview with FightHype.com.
“He [Ruiz] knocked out Anthony Joshua, which was the shock of the century. I think Andy Ruiz can do the same thing to Deontay if he catches him.
“Deontay is a very different fighter from Joshua. He’s a smarter fighter, he’s a more passionate fighter. Deontay is smarter. He can use his distance He has that powerful jab, right hand. The only thing that worries me is the chin of Deontay.
So, if Ruiz catches him, it’s lights out. Everybody knows that, but he has to catch him. I think it’s going to be a good fight.”
Wilder held the WBC belt for five years before losing it to Tyson Fury in a thrilling heavyweight trilogy. He was knocked out in the second and third fights, which is likely why De La Hoya is questioning his chin.
As Wilder and Ruiz continue to negotiate, Anthony Joshua is due to return to the ring on April 1, likely against Jermaine Franklin.
Fans will hope that later in the year De La Hoya’s theories can be put to the test by the two former champions finally facing off.