'Andy don’t wanna fight Deontay' - Malik Scott Put an End to Wilder vs Ruiz Match Rumors
Deontay Wilder has been absent from the boxing ring since his impressive first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October 2022. This victory came after a series of thrilling battles with Tyson Fury, where Wilder ultimately lost and failed to regain his title, prompting speculation about his retirement. Despite confirming his intention to continue fighting following the Helenius knockout, Wilder's time away from the ring has been far from active. In November, the WBC ordered him to face Andy Ruiz Jr in a final eliminator for a chance to fight Fury and reclaim his old belt. However, no concrete developments occurred until this summer when both fighters confirmed talks. Unfortunately, negotiations quickly soured due to disagreements over purse splits, with Ruiz's camp claiming they were offered an inadequate deal. Speaking to Little Giant Boxing, Wilder's trainer, Malik Scott, confirmed that the fight with Ruiz was officially canceled.
“That’s dead. Andy don’t wanna fight Deontay, and his way of saying it was asking for 20, 30 million dollars for a fight that you don’t deserve 20, 30 million dollars for. Hiding behind the business is what he did, and I truly believe he never really wanted to fight Deontay, but it was a good sales pitch and something to keep his name going.”Despite this, Ruiz had recently expressed his desire to face Wilder. Instead, it appears that Wilder and Scott are now gearing up for a showdown with Anthony Joshua in early 2024. Joshua, after losing his world titles, has secured two victories this year, and his team has confirmed their interest in facing Wilder next. Whether either fighter takes on lesser opponents before the anticipated Saudi Arabia showdown depends on the timing. If the bout is scheduled for January, it will likely be their next fight. However, if it's set for March or later, they may step into the ring for another match in the meantime.
