Add Deontay Wilder to the mix of observers who were displeased by Andy Ruiz Jr.’s title-losing performance against Anthony Joshua on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua pitched a near-shutout over 12 rounds to regain the three heavyweight belts he lost to Ruiz on June 1.
In a radio interview with SiriusXM Fight Station, Wilder, who holds the fourth major title, opined on what he felt were both tactical failures and character flaws on the part of the Mexican-American. Joshua worked behind his jab and moved his feet to keep away from Ruiz’s mid-range combinations. Ruiz never quite adjusted.
“Ruiz followed him all night long,” Wilder said. “With a guy (Joshua) with such a long reach, you can’t just follow him. You know what’s going to happen, a punching bag, as they call it. Just sit there and receive punches. And he did that all night.”
Wilder also was disappointed in the fact that Ruiz allowed the money and limelight to affect him after his earth-shattering upset in June. Ruiz weighed in at 283.7 pounds for the rematch, roughly 15 pounds heavier than his weight in the first fight.
“But what really got me about Ruiz was not just what he did in the ring, but what he said, as well,” Wilder said. “Because as you know, one thing that I mentioned to Ruiz when I was doing an interview on TV is, I told him, ‘Don’t get comfortable. Congratulations, but don’t get comfortable with the lifestyle and stuff. It can grab you. But you know you’re just beginning. There can be more to this for you and your family. Don’t dwell on this.’”
Manny Robles, Ruiz’s trainer, mentioned to reporters that he wanted Ruiz to start training in July, but his charge showed up in September. During the post-fight press conference, Ruiz pleaded for a third fight with Joshua and admitted that he didn’t train hard enough, saying “I think we started too late. I didn’t want to say three months of partying affected me, but to tell you the truth, it did.”
Wilder wasn’t happy about that admission.
“‘Oh, I ate too much and I could’ve trained a little harder,’” Wilder said. “Like, what the f— are you talking about. That is exactly the opposite of what it takes to be a champion. What do you mean? You were telling the world that you weren’t letting it get to your head and how it’s such a blessing. You can’t come in and say the rematch, the third fight, I’ll promise I’ll train. Like what are you talking about!”
Wilder is scheduled to face Tyson Fury in a rematch Feb. 22 on pay-per-view.