'They’re trying to pay me what I made for my last fight' - Andy Ruiz Jr. Reveals His Offered Purse For Wilder Clash
The highly anticipated match-up between former heavyweight champions Andy Ruiz Jr. and Deontay Wilder seems to have hit a wall. The World Boxing Council's order for their final eliminator has been withdrawn due to extended and unsuccessful negotiations. Fans are left disheartened as it appears the two fighters will not be meeting in the ring anytime soon. The main reason for the breakdown is disagreements over the fight purse. Ruiz is still holding out hope for the bout. He mentioned his expectation of being paid $10 million to face Wilder, a figure that he disclosed during an Instagram Live session. He expressed his discontent, stating that the offer he received was similar to what he made in his previous fight against Luis Ortiz in 2022. Ruiz argued that with every win, especially after defeating Ortiz, his compensation should increase.
“They’re trying to pay me what I made for my last fight. It doesn’t make sense. You’re climbing up the ladders and then you get a big task. You’re supposed to beat him. I beat [Ortiz] and the purse is supposed to go higher and higher and higher. That’s the way it goes. If you don’t know, then don’t say s***.”For reference, Ruiz was reportedly paid $1 million for his bout with Ortiz, which he secured with a unanimous decision, knocking down the Cuban fighter twice. On the other side, Wilder's team feels that Ruiz's financial expectations are unrealistic, suggesting he's asking for too much. Wilder has hinted at the possibility of Ruiz being side-lined in the future because of these demands. As it stands, the spotlight now shifts towards Wilder potentially facing Anthony Joshua in 2024. However, excitement for this Saudi Arabia proposed match-up has also dimmed, with updates becoming less frequent.
