Boxing free agent Deontay Wilder has RULED out signing Eddie Hearn after promoter Matchroom expressed interest in putting the former heavyweight champion in a fight against Andy Ruiz
- Deontay Wilder recently declared himself an “open agent” as he plans his next move
- Eddie Hearn said earlier this month he would make a move for the American
- But the former heavyweight champion rejected the idea of signing with Hearn
Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has ruled out signing Eddie Hearn after the Matchroom promoter said he was interested in putting him in a fight against Andy Ruiz.
The Bronze Bomber, who was ordered to fight Ruiz by the WBC in November, recently declared himself an “open agent” to take a more active role in the future of his career.
When asked about whether he would make a move for Wilder earlier this month, Hearn told iFL TV: “Absolutely. We would like. I would love to do Deontay Wilder vs. Andy Ruiz.
“I think it’s a great fight, it’s been ordered and we’d like to try to get it… Free agent. Here you go.’
Wilder is considered open to a string of fights this year after knocking out Robert Helenius in the first round in October – his first fight since suffering back-to-back losses to heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has ruled out signing with promoter Eddie Hearn
Eddie Hearn said earlier this month he would make a move for free agent Wilder to fight Andy Ruiz
But when approached with rumors of working with Hearn’s Matchroom, Wilder simply told Pro Boxing Fans: “That’s negative.”
It may be because Wilder is more interested in fighting Anthony Joshua, who he has been chasing for several years.
The 37-year-old and Joshua are both without world title belts and a win against the other would revitalize stagnant careers.
As Wilder looks to bounce back from his two losses to Fury, Joshua is looking to respond after back-to-back losses himself to Oleksandr Usyk.
Wilder would no doubt love to end the final years of his career by facing Joshua on British soil.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed last month that Joshua had agreed to face American Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena on April 1.
Joshua has not stepped into the ring since his second loss to Usyk in August – having lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts to the Ukrainian in September 2021.
Wilder is more interested in fighting Anthony Joshua than Andy Ruiz, who has not been in the ring since his second loss to Usyk in August.