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By Tim Royner: Eddie Hearn says he made a “big seven figure offer ” to Andy Ruiz Jr. for a fight with Dillian Whyte, and he’s thinking he might want more money for that fight. Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs) might be a little spoiled right now after getting $12 million payday in his last fight against Anthony Joshua on December 7. If Hearn’s 7-figure offer amounts to a paycut for Ruiz, then it’s going to be difficult to get him to agree to the fight with Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs).

Just how high Hearn is willing to go to get Ruiz to agree to a Whyte fight is unknown. $5 million might do the job, but that’s how much Andy received for his first match with Joshua. That’s probably not a doable number unless Matchroom Boxing wants to overpay. You have to believe that if Ruiz Jr. gets $5 million, Whyte will want the same. Will Ruiz Jr. vs. Whyte bring in that kind of money?

Both Ruiz and Whyte need fights, and Hearn would like to match them up in a big pay-per-view event in March or April in the Uk if possible.

Hearn offering Ruiz Jr. a big fight to get back in the mix

“We made Andy Ruiz an offer, it’s a big seven-figure offer, but maybe he thinks this ain’t the right money for it,” said Hearn to Matchroom Boxing about a fight between Ruiz and Whyte. “He’s entitled to do that. It’s a big fight to get back in the mix, but it’s a big fight for both. And it’s a risky fight for both. If Dillian loses to Andy Ruiz, his world title dreams are shattered. If Ruiz loses, he’s not in a good position,” said Hearn.

This isn’t just a risky fight for Ruiz Jr. Whyte has a lot to lose in a match with former IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Ruiz Jr., since he’s the interim WBC heavyweight champion. He has a guaranteed title shot against the winner of the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury 2 remtch.

Whyte wants anyone of these fighters for his next fight:

• Andy Ruiz Jr.
• Alexander Povetkin
• Joseph Parker

“Anyone can get it. Andy Ruiz would be a good one obviously,” said Whyte. “He just had two good fights against Joshua, and he fought Joseph Parker. Povetkin is a great fighter, an Olympic gold medalist and former world champion. He lost to [Wladimir] Klitschko and Joshua. So any one of them [Ruiz or Povetkin]. Any one of those,” said Whyte.

Hearn: Whyte MUST get title shot in next 18 months

I feel that the one thing that Dillian Whyte must have in the next 18 months maximum is a world title shot. I’m using that to give ourselves some leeway,” said Hearn.

“Stop saying that. You’ve been saying that for a long time,” said Whyte in responding to Hearn’s comment about Dillian getting a world title shot in the next 18 months. “Make it happen.”

Poor Whyte. He’s been waiting so long for his title shot, and he could have gotten one against Anthony Joshua ages ago if Hearn had wanted to put that fight together. It works better for Hearn to keep Whyte and Joshua away from each other. They won’t spoil it for each other as long as they don’t fight. Whyte almost beat Joshua in 2015, and he clearly gave Hearn a big scare. There’s a lot more at stake now between them. Hearn cannot afford to have Joshua take another loss, as it hurt the money flow that he brings in.