Deontay Wilder’s Trainer Confirms Andy Ruiz Jr. Is Likely Next

Deontay Wilder vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. will likely be next, Malik Scott, the head trainer of Wilder revealed.

Wilder is coming off a KO win over Robert Helenius and after that, the WBC ordered Wilder to face Ruiz Jr. in a title eliminator bout. It’s a fight both men have called for but according to Scott, it is down to Ruiz Jr. and a mystery opponent, but he believes it will likely be Ruiz Jr.

“It’s down to the mystery opponent and Andy Ruiz Jr. Since AJ had made up his mind and does not want to fight Deontay right now, we’re down to Andy Ruiz and the mystery guy. The mystery fighter is not as guaranteed to happen as the Ruiz fight. If you’re looking at it from the business perspective, it’s most likely going to be the mandatory shot, Ruiz,” Scott told Best Sports Betting Canada. 

“It’s looking like Ruiz, but in this game there’s no telling as Deontay is big-time boxing. When you’re bigtime boxing, and as sad or as unfortunate it may sound to some people, mandatories don’t mean nothing. Fighters have stepped aside to make big, big fights happen,” Scott continued. “This goes on in boxing, it’s what the fans want or what makes business sense for the fighters and their team. It’s likely to be Ruiz but if not there are other negotiations going on as well.”

If Deontay Wilder vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. does happen, the hope is it will take place in March or April.

“We could be going in March or early April but it really depends. The only thing I can say at the moment is Ruiz is mandated but Deontay is big-time boxing,” Scott said. “And when you have a big-time boxer like Deontay and a mandatory going on at the same time – and there’s another bigger fighter – step a side happens sometimes, you never know. Business is willing to be made to make bigger fights happen.”

Who do you think wins, Deontay Wilder or Andy Ruiz Jr.?