Google News Deontay Wilder Says He Wants To Fight Andy Ruiz; Calls Out Anthony Joshua
by FARUK IMAMOVIC | VIEW 407
As the heavyweight division continues to heat up, the fight for the top contenders has become a game of who can offer the most lucrative deal. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) recently ordered a showdown between Filip Hrgovic and Andy Ruiz, but it appears that this matchup may not come to fruition.
Deontay Wilder vs Ruiz
The issue for Hrgovic is that the World Boxing Council (WBC) has already ordered a "title eliminator" fight between Deontay Wilder and Ruiz, and the reality is that the financial incentives for Ruiz to fight Wilder are far greater.
In an interview, Wilder made it clear that he wants a fight against Ruiz, and also took a shot at Joshua, saying "Joshua doesn’t want to fight me; it’s plain and clear. I don’t know why people keep asking about that,” Wilder said in an interview with Elie Seckbach of ESNews.
“Everybody should’ve known when the $50 million was offered, and he didn’t take it. Even moving forward, Joshua doesn’t want to fight. They should have known then there was something fishy about it”.
“Andy is a good fighter. I like his speed, his willingness, and his bravery, but it’s not going to be enough for me, though,” said Wilder. “He’s going to have to put an extra recipe on top of everything I named.
He’s going to have to put some more on it because I am the man. I am that man. That’s why they fear me. Do you understand? With me, you’re going to need extra help, and I’m not just talking about you by yourself”.
It appears that the Croatian boxer Hrgovic will be left out of the equation, as Ruiz is likely to opt for the more financially beneficial fight against Wilder. This also puts an end to the hopes of seeing Joshua and Wilder face off, as Joshua recently confirmed a fight against Jermaine Franklin.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Hrgović, but for now it seems that his IBF-ordered fight against Ruiz will not come to fruition.