Andy Ruiz Jr is eyeing a shot at Tyson Fury's WBC heavyweight world title if he opts to vacate it and retire.
The Mexican star will make his long-awaited return against Luis Ortiz this December as he looks to rebuild following his rematch defeat to Anthony Joshua in 2019. Ruiz Jr has fought just once since that loss against Chris Arreola where he recovered from an early knockdown to outpoint his rival.
Fury currently holds the WBC title which is the only belt that Ruiz Jr has yet to get his hands on. Ruiz Jr believes winning the green belt could see him follow Fury into retirement. “I’m on a mission. I want to get that green belt. That’s the belt that I’m missing,” Ruiz told Elie Seckbach during a visit to his home gym ahead of his bout with Ortiz.
“So I don’t know what’s going to happen or whether Tyson Fury is going to vacate the belt. I don’t know who is going to be the person to try to win that belt, but that’s my mission now. After I get that [WBC title], I can retire."
Fury is yet to make a decision on whether to vacate his belt despite planning to hold talks with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman in the coming weeks. Despite insisting his victory over Dillian Whyte was his last appearance in the ring, it is expected Fury will wait to see the outcome of Anthony Joshua's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk before making a decision.
He will likely opt to stake his WBC title in an undisputed clash with British rival Joshua if he can reclaim his unified titles in Saudi Arabia on August 20. Should Fury vacate, it is likely that several fighters will be looking to challenge for the belt including Deontay Wilder who currently holds the No.1 contender status.
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Sulaiman has claimed that a number of heavyweight fighters will likely be put forward into a tournament-style format to decide the final challengers for the belt if it is left vacant. "We have one year to have the next mandatory fight," Sulaiman told Sky Sports when questioned about the possibility of the belt becoming vacant. " At this moment, we will wait the decision of Tyson Fury, and then we will either do a series of fights – a boxing tournament – going into a final elimination.
"But at this time we’re going to wait because we don’t know the specific circumstances. I believe that Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker are fighting for the WBO interim championship, but I have not confirmed that. All of the variables may change.”
Fury has indicated he is in no hurry to vacate his belt having completed his mandatory challenge by defeating Whyte. A decision is expected after Joshua takes Usyk with Fury's promoter Frank Warren suggesting the 'Gypsy King' remains interested in a bout with Joshua or Usyk.
