Andy Ruiz Jr Calls Out Deontay Wilder: “Chicken Legs”

Ruiz says the long-delayed heavyweight fight still needs to happen after Wilder’s recent comeback victory over Derek Chisora

Andy Ruiz Jr. says he still wants a fight against Deontay Wilder before both heavyweights leave boxing behind. The former unified heavyweight champion revived talk about the matchup after Wilder’s recent comeback win over Derek Chisora.

That has left Wilder with several options, including unfinished business fights that never happened during the PBC era. Ruiz says he still wants his shot.

“I want to beat up chicken legs, Wilder, because that fight was supposed to be made so many years ago,” said Andy Ruiz Jr. to talkSPORT Boxing.

Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) has fought only once since 2022, battling Jarrell Miller to a draw in August 2024. He suffered a fractured right hand in that fight and has spent much of the last year recovering. The 36-year-old former unified heavyweight champion says he is ready to return and pursue the fights that slipped away during his peak years.

The Wilder-Ruiz fight had been discussed repeatedly when both heavyweights were aligned with Premier Boxing Champions, but negotiations never produced a deal despite strong fan interest.

Wilder (46-4-1, 45 KOs) may still head toward a rematch with Chisora after their recent fight ended with complaints from the British veteran about the officiating and scorecards. Still, Ruiz’s entering the picture again gives Wilder another recognizable opponent at a time when the heavyweight division is searching for marketable fights outside of the title scene.

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