Andy Ruiz Jr wants to fight Deontay Wilder - but is uncertain if the 'Bronze Bomber' will return to the ring.
The Mexican star has been looking to regather momentum in his heavyweight career since losing his rematch to Anthony Joshua in 2019. Ruiz Jr outpointed Chris Arreola in a lacklustre display last year, and is now looking to take another step back to the top when he faces Luis Ortiz this September.
Ruiz Jr is eyeing a future challenge at the WBC heavyweight title, which is the only belt he is yet to win in his career. Wilder currently holds the No.1 contender position with the organisation despite defeat in his trilogy battle with Tyson Fury. And Ruiz Jr believes his hard work in training will pay off in his plan to return to the top.
"We’re actually training hard. If I win [against Ortiz], I would want to fight Wilder if he comes out of retirement," Ruiz Jr told FightHype when asked about his plans if he beats Ortiz. "[Wilder] was kind of saying that he didn’t want to come back, and makes more money outside of the ring than inside the ring.
"That kind of showed that he doesn’t really want to and I don’t blame him. All the hard work and dedication that he has put in over the years. He accomplished a lot and was a champion for so many years. I can’t blame him.
"If he wants to enjoy his life without getting hurt, without getting punched in the face. He already did it. We all work hard, so we don’t have to work hard in life. He already did all the hard work, but so did I. I have enough money to where I don’t have to work any more. We have houses that we’re making, and I make money every month.”
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Several fighters will be looking to push up the rankings alongside Ruiz Jr in a bid to position themselves for a title challenge including Joseph Parker and Joe Joyce. Current champion Fury is planning his own retirement but has yet to vacate the belt and could challenge Joshua for the undisputed titles.
Should Fury vacate, Ruiz Jr could look to challenge for the vacant title with Wilder likely to be his rival for the crown. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has even suggested that the leading contenders could be placed into a tournament to elect the two final challengers.
The Mexican star has admitted he could choose to retire himself if he does fulfil his ambition and become WBC champion. “I’m on a mission. I want to get that green belt. That’s the belt that I’m missing,” Ruiz told Elie Seckbach. “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."
