ANTHONY JOSHUA’S hopes of a dream match against Deontay Wilder have been dealt a significant blow.
Joshua and Wilder were in talks for a fight but negotiations ultimately fell through.
And chances of the two parties sitting around the table again now appear less likely as Andy Ruiz Jr has swooped in for a match against the Bronze Bomber.
Ruiz has demanded a reopening of negotiations between him and Wilder for a heavyweight battle.
And the Mexican-American bruiser appears so keen to lock horns with the 37-year-old that he hinted he could forfeit the lion’s share of the purse.
Ruiz told Fight Hub TV: “Me and him [Wilder] need to negotiate. We need to talk man-to-man, Let’s fight.
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“If it’s not 50-50, let’s negotiate whatever it is. Let’s make it happen. I’m going to beat your a**e.”
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott issued another blow in Joshua’s hopes of a bout against his fighter.
Scott admitted the American’s next likeliest opponent at this time is Ruiz.
Scott said: “Andy Ruiz, probably at this point. When you are the hardest puncher in the sport’s history, it’s very hard for guys to want to fight you.
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“I’m going to say a number. Fighters would rather stay poor than make four million. That’s a tragedy.
“They’d rather ask for 15 to 20 million knowing it’s not on the table.
“They know this money is not on the table for them, but they’d rather ask for that. It’s insane.”
Scott also opened up about the reason why talks between Wilder and Joshua fell through.
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The boxing trainer suggested AJ wasn’t too keen to lock horns with his fighter.
Scott added: “Deontay is one of those fighters that can literally cut your switch off completely with one shot.
“That’s something that most fighters don’t want to face. They don’t want to face that specimen.
“I just want him to fight, man. I’m so frustrated. That’s my brother. I love him. To me, out of all this, he’s not benefiting from it because of inactivity.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
