Deontay Wilder set to fight Andy Ruiz Jr in May in WBC title eliminator with Middle East a frontrunner to host US clash

DEONTAY WILDER is set to fight Andy Ruiz Jr next in a title eliminator with the Middle East a frontrunner to host.

The WBC have ordered the American pair into a final eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger for Tyson Fury’s belt.

Deontay Wilder is set to fight Andy Ruiz Jr nextGetty

GettyAndy Ruiz Jr are set for a WBC title eliminator[/caption]

According to ESPN, the Middle East have shown an interest in staging the fight, which is targeted for May.

But Errol Spence Jr, 32, is also set to face Keith Thurman, 34, in the same month on pay-per-view.

And Premier Boxing Champion want to avoid two PPVs in the same month, meaning Wilder’s fight with Ruiz, 33, could be moved.

The American, 37, returned in October, knocking out Robert Helenius, 39, in the first round.

It came after Wilder suffered consecutive knockout losses to Tyson Fury, 34, after their controversial 2018 draw.

The ex-champion’s team have pursued a blockbuster bout against Anthony Joshua, 33, and made it a priority.

But AJ is in line for a confidence-building tune-up fight on April 1 having suffered back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 36.

So Wilder is ready to focus on Ruiz – who both beat and lost to Joshua in 2019 – with the winner named as next for Fury’s belt.

His manager Shelly Finkel told SunSport: “Deontay is in good spirits.

“Right now we’re looking at a couple of options and most likely we’ll be fighting Ruiz, I hope in the second quarter of the year.

“In the next couple of weeks I’ll know if that can be made.

“Ruiz is not a second-class opponent, so he’s asking for a good payday also, which makes it all the more difficult.”

Boxing manager Shelly Finkel pictured with Deontay Wilder in 2018AFP or licensors