Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr are currently in negotiations to face off in a WBC final eliminator.
The two former world champions were ordered to do so last November, but it has taken until now for talks to turn serious. Whilst there are still financial hurdles to clear, both men need a dance partner after having an inactive year so far, and the fight make sense in many ways.
Should it be made, it will be Ruiz’s toughest test since two fights with Anthony Joshua that saw him win the unified heavyweight titles and give them back in the immediate rematch. He has victories over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz since.
As for Wilder, fans will be intrigued to see if the Mexican’s quick hands can pose any sort of threat to him and negate his equalising punch power. The odds say no, given the American has knocked out every man he’s faced that isn’t Tyson Fury.
One man who knows that power well is Gerald Washington (20-5-1, 13 KOs). He was stopped by Wilder in the fifth round of their 2017 bout. He has also sparred rounds with Ruiz, and made a confident pick to ES News.
“Ain’t no way [Ruiz wins.] Ain’t no way. Deontay, I think he just smokes Andy. It don’t matter [who had better footwork] – Wilder is way better. Knockout.”
Washington trains under the same coach as Wilder, Malik Scott, so it’s of little surprise he’s backing his campmate.
Having said that, his pick does go along with plenty of others – a lot of pundits believe Ruiz doesn’t have the footwork to avoid Wilder’s right hand for twelve rounds.
Whether or not he gets the chance to prove that theory wrong remains to be seen, with the latest update being Wilder criticising him for not accepting a proposed purse split.