Deontay Wilder’s next fight will be against Andy Ruiz or ‘mystery opponent’ after Anthony Joshua’s team decided to have separate comeback bout, trainer Malik Scott reveals
Deontay Wilder's trainer Malik Scott has stated that Andy Ruiz Jr remains the American's likely next fight, though a 'mystery opponent' is now also in the mix.
In recent months, Wilder's manager Shelly Finkel and Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn reconciled following the feud which stemmed from failed negotiations in 2018 and 2019.
Despite this positive step, AJ's team have made it clear that their plan is not to jump straight into a clash with Wilder following his defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and he will instead take a comeback fight on April 1.
The Bronze Bomber had a comeback bout of his own last year as he KOd Robert Helenius in one round after his losses to Tyson Fury.
Now, the WBC have ordered Wilder vs Ruiz as a final eliminator to determine Fury's next mandatory challenger and it appears this will happen next.
"It's down to the mystery opponent and Andy Ruiz," Scott told .
"Since Anthony Joshua has made up his mind and does not want to fight Deontay right now, we're down to Andy Ruiz and the mystery guy.
"The mystery fighter is not as guaranteed to happen as the Ruiz fight.
"If you're looking at it from the business perspective, it's most likely going to be the mandatory shot, Ruiz.
“It's looking like Ruiz, but in this game there's no telling as Deontay is big-time boxing.
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"When you're big-time boxing, and as sad or as unfortunate it may sound to some people, mandatories don't mean nothing.
"Fighters have stepped aside to make big, big fights happen.
“This goes on in boxing, it's what the fans want or what makes business sense for the fighters and their team.
"It's likely to be Ruiz but if not there are other negotiations going on as well."
Regarding the date for Wilder's return, Scott said: "We could be going in March or early April but it really depends.
"The only thing I can say at the moment is Ruiz is mandated but Deontay is big-time boxing.
“And when you have a big-time boxer like Deontay and a mandatory going on at the same time, and there's another bigger fighter, step-aside happens sometimes, you never know.
"Business is willing to be made to make bigger fights happen."