By Dan Ambrose: Andy Ruiz Jr wants to fight Deontay Wilder next May on the Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend following his win against Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz last Sunday night in their WBC heavyweight title eliminator bout at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.
Although Wilder said a fight against Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) is a possibility, he still has a tough match ahead of him against Robert Helenius on October 15th.
Moreover, Wilder is a potential option for Oleksandr Usyk if he can’t set up a fight with Tyson Fury. Also, Anthony Joshua is interested in fighting ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder as well.
Either of those fights will make Deontay a lot more money than fighting Ruiz at this point, particularly after his unimpressive victory over 43-year-old Ortiz (33-3, 28 KOs).
Ruiz beat Ortiz by the scores 114-111, 114-111, and 113-112. Ortiz was outboxing Ruiz the entire fight.
“Deontay Wilder, hopefully, you win. We can get it on. That’s what the people want. Let’s get it,” said Andy Ruiz Jr to Fighthype following his win over Luis Ortiz last Sunday night.
“God willing, he wins in October. We’re in the same organization. We can make this fight happen.”
“Wilder is going to be easy because he’s got a right hand,” said Andy Ruiz Sr to Fighthype about his belief that Deontay will be an easier foe than Luis Ortiz.
“Wilder has got just the right hand. He don’t got the left. He’s got the right. He’s going to get Wilder. You’re going to see. Remember, I told you, he’s going to get King Kong.
“I told you he’s going to get Anthony Joshua. He’s going to knock out Wilder. He’s not the same guy. The guy he’s fighting in October, he’s going to have a hard time with this guy [Robert Helenius]. Maybe shock the world. With tall guys, they’re different because they’re right here.
“Andy is difficult because they have to throw down with their punches. We want Deontay in May on Cinco de Mayo.
“It was coaching. We didn’t want to throw everything,” said Ruiz Sr. about why Andy couldn’t knock out the 43-year-old Luis Ortiz. “It was a hard fight. It was a lefty.
“We were telling Andy in the corner, ‘Calm down, watch out, move around, make him miss so he can get mad and throw that right all night. That way you can get it,'” said Ruiz Jr. about what was being told to Andy Jr in between rounds against Ortiz.
