Add Wilder to the mix of eyeing a fight with Andy Ruiz

One thing for sure is that heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. has everyone is looking for a challenge for a shot at the multiple titles he is holding. While we wait and see if he finalizes a deal for a rematch with Anthony Joshua upcoming, IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev threw his name into the hopper with a petition filed on Friday.

As you would expect, WBC champ Deontay Wilder would want a piece of the action at becoming Undisputed Heavyweight king and confirmed as much in an interview Friday with ESPN.

“We’ll see what happens, but what if Ruiz Jr and Joshua don’t fight? If they don’t take the rematch, then we’ll be looking forward to Ruiz Jr jumping into a unification bout,” Wilder told ESPN.

Also, in the interview, Wilder advised Joshua not to take the immediate rematch with Ruiz due to the way he lost.

“Due to the circumstances of how he lost, no,” Wilder told ESPN. I wouldn’t do it [face Ruiz in the rematch]. But he’s the fighter. He knows what he’s going to do, to be capable of doing. I would advise him to go with his heart. Don’t try to make others happy.

“They don’t want to fight. They’re not going to get in the ring. They are not going to put their lives on the line. Whatever he feels he should do, I would advise him to do that.”

Wilder and Ruiz sat side by side on the broadcast of the Manny Paciquao-Keith Thurman pay-per-view as they are both apart of the Premier Boxing Champions stable of fighters. Can’t help but assume how much of a power move this would be for Ruiz to take on Wilder instead of Pulev, who is promoted by Top Rank and Joshua, who is promoted by Matchroom Boxing.

We say it all the time on the Big Fight Weekend Podcast here that the heavyweights run boxing. Would be an unbelievable turn of events if Ruiz, who has said he is “A-side” and “calls all the shots” since winning the belt from Joshua, decides to turn down the deal and waits for Wilder after his fight with Luiz Ortiz that is slated for the fall.

One thing for sure is that Wilder’s advice for Joshua comes with his best interest at hand.