“Guy Who Probably Wants 10 Million”: Eddie Hearn Reveals the Financial Hurdles Behind Andy Ruiz as a Replacement of Dillian Whyte to Fight Anthony Joshua

The complexities of high-stakes boxing became an obstacle for a potential trilogy. Over the weekend, Dillian Whyte failed his pre-fight VADA drug test. As a result, the British Boxing Board of Control barred Whyte from competing against Anthony Joshua on August 12. This left Joshua with no opponent but his longtime rival, Andy Ruiz Jr. was ready to step in. Ruiz and Joshua share an intriguing history. In 2019, Ruiz stepped in as a replacement for Jarrell Miller to face Joshua. At the time, the Mexican boxer was the underdog. However, in one of the biggest upsets in recent times, Ruiz handed Joshua his first-ever defeat after stopping him in the seventh round.

Moreover, fate had it for them to meet again. In the rematch, Joshua used his reach advantage to box on the outside and secured himself a unanimous decision. Though, it bears a mention that their score is not settled. Both combatants and fans have shown interest in a potential trilogy. And over the weekend, Ruiz seized the opportunity to call out the British boxer to step in as a replacement once again. However, Hearn, in a recent interview, questioned Ruiz’s true intentions and stated that this bout would not have come to fruition in such a short space of time. So without further ado, let’s take a look at what Hearn had to say.

Eddie Hearn does not foresee Joshua vs Ruiz in a short space of time

Ruiz is a household name in boxing and so is Joshua. Not to mention, their trilogy would be a spectacle in the sport. Subsequently, both boxers would negotiate the terms of the fight based on their financial demands. Accommodating their interest within a week is a challenge. Yet, Ruiz was adamant and took to social media to call out his rival. In the video, he stated, “Eddie Hearn, Joshua, I think I found a new replacement again. Let’s run it back.”

However, it is safe to say that the trilogy is not on the cards anytime soon. The British promoter decided to bring in Robert Helenius as a replacement to face Joshua.

During an interview with Talksportboxing, Hearn was revealing the potential options for Joshua to face instead of Whyte. In particular, he mentioned the name of Ruiz but questioned his intention for the call-out since he did not reach out to them personally. He stated, “Andy Ruiz wanted it. He put a tweet out on social media, never contacted us or the management teams.” In addition, he does not foresee the bout to take place due to Ruiz demanding a substantial purse. Reflecting on the same, he stated, “You are talking about the guy who probably wants you know, 10 million, whatever it is to fight AJ. He is not gonna get on a plane on Monday or Tuesday and go through that process.”

Read more: “I Was Willing to Die in the Ring” – Andy Ruiz Jr. Recalls Being Dropped for the First Time by Anthony Joshua