Setting aside the consecutive upsets against Tyson Fury, “The Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder let everyone know that he’s back to his winning ways with the first-round knockout of Robert Helenius.

The win basically puts him in former Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.’s line of fire. Per WBC-mandated requirements, the winner of the eliminator match will have a clear path to a title bout against the reigning champion Tyson Fury. However, it may not be a walk in the park for the Alabamian. After all, the thirty-three-year-old Californian Ruiz staged one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history. On June 1, 2019, he halted Anthony Joshua’s successive title defenses at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

While not taking the “Destroyer’s” threat lightly, Team Wilder believes that the former may not be as significant a threat as it is made to be.

Malik Scott stays calm about the prospects of Deontay Wilder against Andy Ruiz Jr.

Malik Scott, Deontay Wilder’s head trainer, said about his pupil to Casinos En Ligne, “Andy Ruiz presents absolutely no threat to a disciplined Deontay Wilder. I’ve been going over my notes, and from film study, I see Andy Ruiz has a problem with disciplined fighters,” as reported by Boxing Social.

Read More: Deontay Wilder’s Return: “The Bronze Bomber” Allegedly Turns Down One of the Biggest Paychecks of His Career

Further elaborating, he said that Ruiz Jr. might benefit from an explicit mistake. However, if properly planned, his arguments could be effectively neutralized. Despite his fighting prowess, the Californian has flaws; prominent among those is no self-control in the ring.

The trainer took the example of Ruiz’s two fights against Joshua. While the former won the first, during the second, despite winning the first six rounds, Joshua outclassed him by the time fight ended.

He continued, “When AJ fought him the first time he was not as disciplined as when he fought him the second time. The minute AJ fought with a systemized game plan, it was a shut out….”

He also pointed out how another Californian, Cristobal “Chris” Arreola managed to knock down Ruiz Jr. during their fight at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 1, 2021. Scott is highly skeptical that getting closer to Wilder will benefit the former heavyweight champion,” Andy Ruiz is going to come to Deontay and when he does, he puts himself at risk. We’re going to make him reach; he has to; we’re taller. When he reaches, he’s going to pay like he’s never paid before…”

Inside of the ring to the corner; a brief review of Mali Scott’s career

Dohonna Malik Scott joined Deontay Wilder’s team as the chief trainer in 2021. Scott is a former professional boxer, who began his professional career in 2000.

In a career that lasted till 2016, he participated in forty-two bouts, out of which he won thirty-eight. Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder, in 2013 and 2014, respectively, handed down two of the losses he suffered.

Post losing his last career fight against the Cuban Luiz Ortiz in 2016, he officially joined Wilder’s camp in 2021. Wilder’s first fight under Scott was a knockout loss to Tyson Fury. The latter had previously busted Scott’s eardrum during sparring. But whatever is said and done, the former professional-boxer-turned trainer doesn’t rate Andy Ruiz Jr. and his accomplishments down.

While the WBC has mandated the fight, the promoters, it seems, are yet to come to terms. In parallel, talk of a Wilder – Joshua fight has also started doing rounds. It remains to be seen which one turns out eventually.

What is your opinion on the observations made by Wilder’s trainer? Do share with us in the comments.

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