Ruiz: "Hard work pays off, first Ortiz, then Wilder."

Andy Ruiz Jr. (34-2, 22 KOs) has a tough fight on September 4, and he has one more fight coming up before the end of the year. The former world heavyweight champion will face Luis Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs). It will be a WBC elimination bout, a kind of "semi-final". In the second round Deontay Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) will face Robert Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs) on October 15.

"We'll see what happens after the Ortiz fight, how the situation plays out, but our main goal for a while was to fight Wilder. If everything goes according to our plan, we'll meet next May," said Andres Ruiz, Andy's father.

"I feel great, all the hard work is starting to pay off. I'm in my place, but I can't underestimate Ortiz, as has happened to me in the past. This is a whole new chapter in my career. I want to get back on top, so we picked a tough opponent like him. I know it won't be easy, but I believe in my victory in this fight, and then we'll be in the hunt for a sensationally promising fight with Wilder. But for now, my focus is solely on Ortiz. The next step will be Wilder," "The Destroyer" assures.

"If I can avoid injuries, I'd like to have two fights before the end of the year. I need activity and frequent fights, it helps me. Maybe someday I'll finish my trilogy with Anthony Joshua, because we're tied for now. I want to use every moment I have left in boxing. And squeeze the best out of my career, so I'm only interested in the big fights," Ruiz Jr. added.

"Andy is in optimal shape, and we're ready for Ortiz. The preparation has gone the best way possible. He has dedicated himself to hard work, he has dedicated himself to training, and even though we know we have a very dangerous opponent, we will hunt for the knockout," said Alfredo Osuna, Ruiz's new coach.