Boxing News - Latest Headlines

By Brian Webber: Andy Ruiz Jr. is jumping the gun by calling out Deontay Wilder in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator despite him needing to beat the dangerous Robert Helenius on October 15th.

Former unified champion Ruiz posted a photo of him and Wilder inside the ring today on social media, making it clear to his boxing fans that’s the guy he wants next.

Provided Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) beats Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) next month in their headliner on FOX Sports pay-per-view at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, it’s possible that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ could face Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) next.

Wilder hasn’t said conclusively that he’ll fight Ruiz, as he’s got an outside chance of getting a much bigger payday against Anthony Joshua in 2023.

There’s nothing wrong with fighting Ruiz, but if Wilder is offered a fight for much more money against Joshu, you’ve got to believe he’ll take it.

😤👊👊👊 pic.twitter.com/kbYAlTlUAs

— AndyRuizJr (@Andy_destroyer1) September 12, 2022

Ruiz, 32, is a one-hit wonder who has been clawing his way back to a world title shot off the back of fighting two ancient heavyweights in 40-year-old Chris Arreola and 43-year-old Luis Ortiz since his one-sided loss to Joshua in 2019.

You got to believe that Ruiz’s management has been intentionally choosing older fighters for him to fight, as what are the odds of him fighting two 40-year-olds?

The way that Ruiz looked in beating ‘King Kong’ Ortiz earlier this month on September 4th, he needs to stay away from fighting Wilder and stick to 40-year-olds because he looked poor.

Even though Ruiz knocked Ortiz down three times, he barely won the fight because he was getting out-boxed by the talented Cuban. The difference in boxing skills between Ortiz and Ruiz was big enough to drive a truck through it.

The only thing Ruiz had in his favor was hand speed, which he used to score the three knockdowns. However, in between those knockdowns, Ruiz was getting outboxed by Ortiz, and he looked like he was afraid to throw punches for fear of getting countered.

Ruiz’s lack of stamina was a big part of his poor showing as well because he appeared to be afraid to let his hands go for fear of gassing out.

If Ruiz loses this fight to Wilder, this might be the end of the road for him. With Ruiz only fighting once every 16 months, he’ll never make it back.