Heavyweight boxing

ANDY RUIZ JR called on his promotional platform to secure a massive fight with Deontay Wilder. Wilder was ringside in Los Angeles to watch Ruiz drop his former opponent Luis Ortiz THREE times before winning on points.
Andy Ruiz Jr returned to beat Luis OrtizCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Deontay Wilder was ringside to watch Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The heavyweight clash was an eliminator for the WBC title held by Tyson Fury, 34, who is expected to unify with Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
And Wilder, 36, returns on October 15 in a separate WBC eliminator against Robert Helenius, 38.
It means if the ex-champion emerges victorious, it puts himself in line to fight Ruiz for the right to challenge for the belt.
And his Mexican-American stable-mate called on Premier Boxing Champions boss Al Haymon to get a deal over the line.
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Ruiz, 32, said: “God willing he wins against Robert in October.
“Me and him are in the same organisation, I want to thank Al Haymon, he can make this fight happen and let’s do it, let’s get it on.”
Wilder has not fought since losing his trilogy fight classic against Fury in October 2021.
But he warned Ruiz and the rest of the division that he is ready to rumble once more.
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Wilder said: “Deontay Wilder is back. We’re always looking for great exciting fights we love to give the fans.
“So if that’s what is lined up next, I’ve got to handle business and after that, we can get it on.”
Ruiz shot to fame in 2019 when he upset Anthony Joshua, 32, only to lose the belts and rematch six months later.
But after returning with a win over Ortiz, 43, the fired up contender vowed to reign again.
Ruiz said: “I’m ready, I’m hungry man. I want to be champion again, I want to bring that belt back to Mexico.”
Luis Ortiz was floored three times by Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

ANDY RUIZ JR floored Luis Ortiz THREE times on his way to returning with a victory in the ring. The pair headlined over 12 rounds in Los Angeles with former unified heavyweight champion Ruiz walking away with a points win.
Andy Ruiz Jr beat Luis Ortiz in his return fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The heavyweight clash went the distanceCredit: AP
He dropped Ortiz twice in round two before putting the Cuban veteran down again in the seventh.
The scorecards revealed the fight to be close, with Ruiz’s knockdowns actually securing him the victory.
He said: “Since the jump I thought people were doubting me and thought I was going to get my ass knocked down and what not.
“I worked so hard for this fight because I know he’s a warrior and he hits hard.
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“I thought I did a beautiful job boxing and countering, I thought I showed some different class than I usually do instead of just pressuring him and going forward.”
Ortiz, 43, last boxed in January when he beat ex-champ Charles Martin, 35, in six wild rounds.
And Ruiz, 32, came back for the first time since May of last year when he laboured past Chris Arreola, 41, over the distance.
The opening round against Ortiz was a cagey affair but the fight kicked into gear in the second.
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Ruiz landed a thudding right hook on the temple, which instantly sunk Ortiz to the canvas.
The former title challenger made it to his feet but was immediately bundled over with a second knockdown scored.
Ruiz looked on his way to an early night’s work until he decided to take his foot off the gas.
Ortiz ended up boxing his way back into the bout by keeping the action long and on the end of his southpaw jab.
By the half way mark, both were landing power punches but in round seven Ortiz was again picking himself up from the deck.
Ruiz threw a lightening combination and as Ortiz came up from ducking underneath, he took another right hook to the temple.
Luis Ortiz hits the canvasCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Luis Ortiz made it to his feet after each knockdownCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But the ageing heavyweight once more beat the count and fought on with a menacing smile on his face.
Following a hat-trick on knockdowns, again Ruiz failed to follow up and Ortiz pulled himself back into it.
By the 11th, his left eye was brutally closed but Ortiz refused to give in and made a late push.
In the final three minutes, Ruiz had to sustain serious pressure but defended well enough to see the fight out.
The scorecards read 113-112 an 114-111 twice in Ruiz’s favour, giving him the victory on points.
It was also an eliminator for the WBC title held by Tyson Fury, 34, who is expected to unify against Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
Deontay Wilder, 36, meanwhile faces Robert Helenius, 38, in a separate eliminator in his return fight on October 15.
It means if Wilder, who was ringside in LA, wins he and Ruiz are in line for a huge all-American clash next year.
Andy Ruiz Jr on the end of a Luis Ortiz hookCredit: Premier Boxing Champions
Andy Ruiz Jr scored three knockdownsCredit: Premier Boxing Champions
Wilder said: “Deontay Wilder is back. We’re always looking for great exciting fights we love to give the fans.
“So if that’s what is lined up next, I’ve got to handle business and after that, we can get it on.”
Ruiz called on Premier Boxing Champions boss Al Haymon to make the fight happen.
He said: “Me and him are in the same organisation, I want to thank Al Haymon, he can make this fight happen and let’s do it, let’s get it on.”
Ruiz shot to fame in 2019 when he stunned Anthony Joshua, 32, on late notice to win the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
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But he lost the rematch six months later, giving him the inspiration to rule the world once more.
Ruiz roared: “I’m ready, I’m hungry man. I want to be champion again, I want to bring that belt back to Mexico.”
Deontay Wilder is in line to fight Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

TYSON FURY reckons he fights in the UK before the end of the year – but not against Oleksandr Usyk.As soon as the 35-year-old Ukraine ace beat Anthony Joshua for the second time, in Jeddah on August 20, Saudi Arabia started trying to arrange an undisputed decider with the WBC Gypsy King on December 17.
Tyson Fury has vowed to fight in the UK before the end of 2022Credit: Reuters
He is looking at a domestic title defence before facing Oleksandr Usyk next yearCredit: AFP
The specific date and willingness to spend up to £125million were designed to upstage rival neighbours Qatar, who host the World Cup final on December 18.
But the gruelling camp WBA, IBF and WBO boss Usyk put himself through for the points win, and his desire to spend time with his young family in his wartorn home, has pushed the date back.
Fury’s American backers would prefer to see the 6ft 9in 19st showman compete on their iconic Super Bowl weekend over February 11 and 12.
So, once promoter Frank Warren finds a suitable foe, he now hopes to squeeze in a quick domestic money-spinning defence – which also allows Usyk to heal up – before hopefully sealing the four-belt showdown.
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Speaking in Cardiff after another WWE cameo performance, the 34-year-old Morecambe ace said: “I will be fighting very soon. I don’t know who against, we are still looking for an opponent.
“I will fight in the next few months here in the UK.
“Usyk will not be ready, he does not want to fight. I will fight whoever is available.
“Whoever Frank Warren gets for me, that is who I will be defending my WBC belt against.”
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Fury likes labelling former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk ‘the middleweight’ after the brief spell he spent boxing in that division as an amateur.
It follows on from him nicknaming 32-year-old AJ ‘the bodybuilder’ and helps the insults and trash talk roll of his tongue.
After a choreographed punch on one of the American grapplers in Wales, he roared: “I saw a video from the middleweight who just beat the bodybuilder, saying he wants to fight me and he called me out after the fight.
“I replied straight away and did another one recently to say ‘let’s fight’ but he doesn’t want to fight.
“He let his mouth go but now he’s running scared like the little b**** that he is, he says he wants to fight next year, he has some injuries from that sparring contest he had, so there is not a lot I can do about it.
“I would take the middleweight because it is the easiest fight out there for me.
“I am not greatly interested in being undisputed, never have been, never will be.
“However if you have a pumped up middleweight who people think is some great boxer – even though I don’t really rate him myself – then that is the money fight and the fight people want to see right now.
“I don’t want to say anything to him apart from ‘find your balls and come and see me, you s***house.’” More

TYSON FURY has already made a bet with his trainer on what round he will beat Oleksandr Usyk in. Fury wants to fight Usyk in the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt undisputed title decider.
Tyson Fury and his coach SugarHill StewardCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
And the unbeaten WBC champion and his coach SugarHill Steward are adamant the historic unification bout will not go past the half way mark.
Fury told SecondsOut: “Me and SugarHill Steward both are convinced that if it goes six rounds, that’s a s*** performance.
“I’ll cut him down inside six, for sure. And Sugar reckons I’ll cut him down inside four. So we’ve actually got a bet on, which one gets done first.”
Fury, 34, had retired after knocking out Dillian Whyte, also 34, in April but appears to have confirmed his boxing comeback.
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It comes amid talks to face Usyk, 35, who recently beat Anthony Joshua, 32, on points for the second time in 11 months.
But the Ukrainian has ruled himself out of fighting until next year, despite Fury wanting to return in December.
Usyk plans to rest and recover with his loved ones, having left his homeland to train amid Russia’s invasion.
But Fury meanwhile is not willing to wait around till next year and claimed he will announce his return fight NEXT WEEK.
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He said: “Usyk was calling me out after his last fight with Joshua, I’ve replied and said let’s do the fight this year, wherever they want to do it.
“I’ve been waiting for offers from countries to come forward, and all of a sudden Usyk has stated he doesn’t want to fight any more, he wants to fight next year, not this year.
“So, I’m not going to wait around for anybody, I’m announcing a fight next week.”
Oleksandr Usyk has ruled himself out of fighting until next yearCredit: PA More

DILLIAN WHYTE said Anthony Joshua “couldn’t deal” with losing to Oleksandr Usyk – and called for a December rematch with his old rival. Joshua was beaten for the second time in 11 months by Usyk on points, this time a closer split-decision in Saudi Arabia.
Dillian Whyte wants to rematch Anthony Joshua in December
His promoter Eddie Hearn revealed AJ could return in December and named Whyte as a potential opponent for next year.
But the heavyweight contender, coming off a knockout defeat to Tyson Fury, does not want to wait around.
Whyte told iFL TV: “Joshua just lost, that’s a rematch that I want and one the British public want to see.
“There will be a lot of interest in that worldwide as well. That’s a big one.
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“Eddie Hearn works for him, he said he wants to fight in December, then let’s fight.
“I’m coming off a loss, he’s coming off a loss; we’ve had two fights already. Why not get it on in December?
“That would be perfect for me. I’ll be ready for December.”
Whyte, 34, beat Joshua, 32, in the amateurs but was stopped in seven rounds when they rematched in 2015 as professionals.
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He had backed AJ to avenge defeat to Usyk, 35, but the Ukrainian pound-for-pound star repeated his brilliance.
Afterwards, Joshua was involved in a bizarre meltdown and threw two of the champion’s belts out of the ring.
And he also produced a rambling post-fight speech, which AJ later apologised for.
Whyte said: “He tried his best, and obviously Usyk was better than him on the night, obviously.
“It wasn’t a hard fight physically for him, but it was a hard fight mentally for him.
“And I think he’s going through a lot of changes, a lot of pressure and a lot of things at the minute
“I think it all got too much for him, and he broke down in the fight.
“You could see that he was showing signs of pressure and stress after the fight and he couldn’t deal with it.
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“A lot of these guys don’t know how to deal with defeats. No one wants to lose, no one wants to deal with defeats but life is full of ups and downs.
“You’ve got to be able to deal with the ups and the downs. You can’t just start crying and losing control just because he lost.
“I’ve had losses in my career but I came back. I’m used to climbing from the bottom up.”
Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua embrace after their rematchCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

TYSON FURY is ready to fight Anthony Joshua if a deal with Oleksandr Usyk cannot be agreed. And despite the Ukrainian’s two wins over AJ, Fury claimed Usyk is an EASIER opponent than his long-time British rival.
Tyson Fury speaking at WWE’s Clash of The Castle
Joshua’s consecutive defeats to the pound-for-pound star leaves him with a rebuilding job, which could begin with a return fight in December.
And it blew his chances of unifying the belts with WBC champion Fury, 34, who is in line to now face Usyk, 35.
But talks for the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt undisputed clash look to have stalled.
Fury does not rule out turning to Joshua, 32, if he fails to agree terms with WBA, IBF and WBO title holder Usyk.
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He told BT Sport: “I still think, even though he’s lost three of his last five fights, I still think that people would like to see that fight.
“So if Usyk can’t be ready and doesn’t want the fight for whatever reason – you know a middleweight against a giant behemoth heavyweight – I can understand why he wouldn’t want it.
“If that fight doesn’t happen, then we’ll go and offer AJ the fight.”
Fury wants to return in December but Usyk has ruled himself out until next year as he rests and recovers with his loved ones back home.
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So the unpredictable Gypsy King has claimed he will announce his comeback fight NEXT WEEK.
And he aimed one more dig at Usyk – who started his amateur career at middleweight – by claiming he is easier to beat than AJ or anyone else.
Fury said: “I’d take the middleweight, because that’s the easiest fight, to be fair.”
Anthony Joshua was twice beaten by Oleksandr UsykCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More