World Boxing Council chiefs have canceled the WBC eliminator status of Deontay Wilder vs Andy Ruiz Jr., World Boxing News can reveal.
The WBC confirmed they altered the situation after Shelly Finkel exclusively told WBN Wilder vs Ruiz was off the table.
Ahead of the Anthony Joshua vs Robert Helenius fight, Finkel told WBN: “I can confirm that Deontay Wilder vs Andy Ruiz Jr. is off, for now. All I can say is that I hope Anthony Joshua wins the fight.”
Joshua indeed claimed victory against Helenius, knocking the rangy Finn out with a hellacious punch. This led WBN to speculate that Joshua could replace Ruiz as mandatory, with an agreement expected over a Wilder clash.
Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua
The pair’s representatives have discussed staging Wilder vs Joshua in Saudi Arabia. A date in December has turned into January. In all likelihood, January will drag to February or March of next year.
Handing final eliminator status to that fight would move the division on, something the WBC is always keen to green-light. That way, fans will be closer to getting the Wilder or Joshua winner versus champion Tyson Fury at the back end of 2024.
The WBC could order the fight with a purse bid if no agreement comes.
Wilder vs Ruiz WBC eliminator canceled
Confirming their intentions to discuss a new way forward at heavyweight, the WBC stated: “The WBC Board of Governors has ruled to cancel the order issued during the last annual convention calling for a final elimination bout between Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr.
“The fight would determine the mandatory challenger of the division. The WBC will evaluate the current situation in the division to review the viable options.
“If necessary, the WBC will issue a new ruling. This will occur during the annual WBC convention in Uzbekistan in November.”
It’s almost certain that Wilder vs Joshua will be the new eliminator. Deontay Wilder ranks number one, with Joshua below Ruiz at number three.
As Ruiz has been inactive since September last year, and AJ has won twice since then, the Briton will likely be elevated to number two. This allows the eliminator to be called anytime after the September ratings are confirmed.
With Fury fighting Francis Ngannou, an MMA star with no boxing experience, WBN has also predicted the WBC would consider an interim title for Wilder vs Joshua.
This way, Fury has no way of backing out of facing the winner without losing his title status.
The man to miss out on all this is Ruiz, who Team Wilder accused of pricing himself out of the fight.
Phil Jay is an experienced boxing news writer.
