Andy Ruiz's dad: 'We want to fight Deontay Wilder'

Despite the fact that a potential duel between former world champions Andy Ruiz and Deontay Wilder expected in 2023, details of his talks are not yet available. Both fighters have won their WBC semi-finals, with Ruiz hitting two knockdowns and a unanimous decision over Luis Ortiz last month, and earlier this month Wilder defeated Robert Helenius in the first round.

Under the WBC's mandate, Wilder and Ruiz are now on their way to a final elimination bout in which the winner will be guaranteed a fight for the world title.

However, Andres Ruiz, Andy's father and manager, is very clear about who they want.

“There is nothing [official] on this issue yet... We have until December to decide who he will fight. But we need Wilder,” said Ruiz Sr.

Earlier, Wilder's coach Malik Scott said that he was not interested in this fight, but Andy's team remains confident in a positive outcome.

“I think Wilder wants to fight unified champion Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua. He says that he is not interested, but we hope that the fight will take place, because they are going to make it mandatory, ”said Ruiz Sr.

The Mexican-American still has one fight left on his contract with Premier Boxing Champions, but the organization is in no hurry to nominate Destroyer's next opponent. Whether undefeated Cuban Frank Sanchez could be another option for Ruiz if Wilder turns it down remains in question.

“We have one more fight left (with PBC) and they didn’t tell me who we would fight. It could also be a fight with Cuban Frank Sanchez, but we'll see who they want to put us with, ”said Ruiz Sr., who added that his son hopes to return to the ring by May - against Wilder or another top opponent from his weight category.