TYSON FURY could turn to Andy Ruiz Jr as a summer opponent in the UK after talks with Oleksandr Usyk collapsed.
Fury and Usyk were nearing a deal to unify all four heavyweight titles for the first time in the division’s history.
But terms for the undisputed decider on April 29 at Wembley collapsed amid a row over the finances for a potential rematch.
It has left Fury, 34, and his promoters looking for an alternative fight and Mexican-American Ruiz, 33, is among the options.
Bob Arum told Cornerman Boxing: “He’s been in Italy on vacation with his family.
“He’s back in England, and we’re talking to him, and we’re looking for the best available guy for him to fight this summer in the UK.
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“Maybe it’ll be Andy Ruiz or somebody like that.”
Ruiz was last in action in September, beating Luis Ortiz over 12 rounds which put him in line to face Deontay Wilder.
But the title eliminator failed to materialise, with Wilder instead linked with a crossover bout against ex-UFC champ Francis Ngannou, 36.
Meanwhile Usyk, 36, has now been ordered into a WBA mandatory title defence against Daniel Dubois with talks currently ongoing.
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Fury has teased fighting unbeaten Joe Joyce while Anthony Joshua has not been ruled out either.
But Hall of Famer Arum hopes Usyk can come through Dubois to set up the unification blockbuster in the Middle East before the year’s end.
He said: “Hopefully, if he’s (Fury) successful and Usyk is fighting Dubois over in the UK, and then in November or December, the two guys can meet in Saudi Arabia so that we can have one heavyweight champion.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
