Andy Ruiz Jr. has set his sights on Deontay Wilder, indicating his interest in settling matters inside the ring. However, before locking horns with Wilder, Ruiz plans on taking a tune-up fight. Despite facing fighters like Luis Ortiz, Chris Arreola, and Anthony Joshua in recent bouts, Ruiz's form has been under scrutiny, especially given the challenges posed by the 40-plus Ortiz and Arreola. Wilder seems to reciprocate Ruiz's interest, but negotiations are currently at a standstill due to financial disagreements.
Wilder's inactivity in the ring is a growing concern, having only engaged in one round since his 2021 defeat to Tyson Fury. Although there were initial hopes for a Wilder-Anthony Joshua match-up, potential Saudi sponsors seemed to have lost interest, possibly influenced by both fighters' recent lackluster performances and Joshua's 2019 loss to Ruiz.
Former unified heavyweight champion Ruiz, boasting a record of 35-2, 22 KOs, has been absent from the ring for over a year. His last appearance resulted in a close unanimous decision victory against Luis Ortiz in September. On discussing a potential bout with Wilder, Ruiz emphasized the need for direct negotiation, urging a face-to-face discussion to iron out the terms.
For his part, Wilder has cited excessive financial demands from Ruiz's camp as the main roadblock to finalizing the fight. Ruiz denies these claims, asking Wilder to produce evidence of the alleged $25 million request. Ruiz believes that the root of these rumors might be Wilder trying to shift the blame.
In the backdrop of all this, Ruiz dreams of a victory over Wilder. He shared a recent dream in which he faced and defeated Wilder, interpreting it as a sign of destiny. Ruiz's eagerness to make this dream a reality is evident, and he remains adamant about coming out on top when they eventually face off.
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