It’s official – the WBC ordered the final elimination between Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for current champ Tyson Fury.
The announcement made today at the WBC congress in Alcupolco comes as no surprise as Wilder and Ruiz are ranked #1 and #2 in the regulator’s official rankings, respectively.
The President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaimán, said:
“The WBC will sanction Ruiz vs Wilder as a final elimination for the mandatory heavyweight position.”
The order of the all-American duel depends on whether both men succeed in their comeback battle this fall. Ruiz won a competitive decision against Cuban Veteran Luis Ortiz, while Wilder returns to action with a devastating knockout by Robert Helenius.
Wilder was once involved in a fight with unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk, while Ruiz teased the idea of a three-part bout with Anthony Joshua. However, with Wilder and Ruiz both signed to Al Haymon’s PBC as well as being the top two WBC contenders, a meeting between the pair is always likely next.
Fans on social media seem divided in the midst of the battle. Some think Ruiz will be the latest addition to Wilder’s remarkable stand-out show, while others think Ruiz’s unique hand speed and counter-attacking style will pose challenges. the ‘Copper Bomber’ question he simply wouldn’t be able to answer. .
Wilder is the most popular bet with bookies right now, with Ruiz being the slightly underdog.
In an interview with Social boxingRuiz confidently got the win and even correctly predicted the punch that made Wilder fall:
“I feel that I can take a punch. I’m not saying he didn’t hit hard or nothing – damn he hit really hard. But like Eddie Hearn said, I’m going to get in, I’m going to throw my combos, I’m going to be fast, explosive, and I feel that his right arm, he’s going to go down. “
With the recent disappointments, fans will be hoping negotiations for the fight go smoothly and the date and location can be announced soon.
