By Craig Daly: Eddie Hearn says he’s in talks to put together a fight between former heavyweight champions Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr.
Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn says he believes that he can set the Wilder-Ruiz fight up despite both guys being PBC fighters. Hearn sounds confident that he can make this fight, which would put the winner in a position to challenge WBC champion Tyson Fury for his belt.
The former WBC champion Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) is now a free agent and wants to take control of his career to set up exciting fights. Wilder is coming off a brilliant first round knockout win over Robert Helenius last October, and his fighting style is different from what it was when he twice lost to Tyson Fury.
Hearn would like to help him by setting up a mouth-watering clash against former IBF, WBA & WBO champion Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs), who he’s worked with twice in fights with Anthony Joshua.
“We’re in talks to try and make that fight, and I’d love to make it,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing Social on his plans to make the Deontay Wilder vs. Andy Ruiz Jr fight. “I feel like I have a great opportunity for both guys. They’re two tremendous heavyweights.
“I think it’s a brilliant fight, but we’ll have to see. I wouldn’t be wasting my time if I didn’t think it was possible,” said Hearn when asked if it’s realistic to promote the Wilder-Ruiz fight, both of which are with PBC, on a Matchroom Boxing card.
“Clearly, we’re in negotiations to try and make that fight. ‘Do you think it’s possible?’ Obviously, I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise,” Hearn said, showing irritability with the young interviewer asking him whether he believes it’s possible to do the Wilder vs. Ruiz fight.
“No, I don’t think it’s possible. We’re just wasting our time trying to make the fight. Clearly, Deontay Wilder wants to take control [of his career] and make his own moves,” said Hearn on his theory on why the free agent Deontay would be willing to go outside PBC to look to have one of his fights promoted.
Hearn didn’t add where he would be looking to stage the Wilder vs. Ruiz fight, but it wouldn’t need to be in Las Vegas or perhaps New York. Neither fighter has a huge fan base in the UK, and it wouldn’t make sense to stage it there unless thee undercard was stacked.