DEONTAY WILDER and Andy Ruiz Jr are on a ‘road to redemption’ that could see them fight this year.
Wilder is still smarting after his sensational seventh-round KO loss to Tyson Fury in February last year.
Ruiz Jr flopped in his rematch against Anthony Joshua – only six months after shocking the world by stopping the Brit.
Here, SunSport compares the two deposed heavyweight champs ahead of a potential mouthwatering clash…
Age
Wilder is the older of the two at 35 with Ruiz Jr a youthful 31.
But such was his battering at the hands of Fury, Wilder may well look all those 35 years and more on his return.
Experience
There’s not much between the two in terms of experience.
Wilder turned pro in 2008 whereas Ruiz Jr joined the sport in 2009.
Deontay Wilder is adamant he will become a world champion againCredit: Instagram / @bronzebomber
Andy Ruiz Jr is on the comeback trail too – and losing weightCredit: Instagram @andy_destroyer13
It is Wilder who has more fights – 44 to Ruiz Jr’s 35, but most of the Bronze Bomber’s bouts lasted only a matter of minutes.
It is Ruiz Jr who has the better grounding, having almost three times as many amateur fights as Wilder.
Power
Both have clear power in their fists – but there is only one winner on this one.
Wilder had knocked every single one of his opponents out before meeting Fury. His one points win before this, against Bermane Stiverne, was avenged when he KO’d his countryman in the rematch.
Ruiz Jr stunned Joshua with his power in July 2019 sending the Brit crashing to the canvas FOUR times before the match was halted.
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Ruiz Jr meekly surrendered his world titles to Joshua in their rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Wilder wanted the Fury trilogy fight – but doesn’t look like getting it any time soonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Fitness
With the power on show, fight fans might not be expecting the fight to tick into the latter stages.
And both boxers will be hoping for similar.
Wilder looked leggy from the off in his battering by Fury, while Snickers loving Ruiz Jr has well-documented problems with his weight.
But the Mexican has undergone a body tranformation following his lame show against Joshua, and he might even have the better engine in this.
Desire
Wilder talks of how he ‘will return to greatness’ but after some wild accusations following the Fury loss, it’s hard to take things seriously with him.
Undefeated for 12 years, and a five-year WBC title reign came crashing down in spectacular fashion in February 2020.
Ruiz Jr became the first-ever Mexican heavyweight champ when he dethroned Joshua in 2019.
But he admitted he let himself down with ‘six months of partying’ and was embarrassed in the rematch as AJ easily won back his belts.
The Destroyer owes it to himself as much as anyone – and that fire might be burning a little brighter than it does for Wilder.
Tyson Fury’s dad John says Deontay Wilder needs a punch in the mouth and tells dethroned champ to keep twerking
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
