Boxing fans like to drool over potential marquee fights. It makes for great water cooler talk.
People talk about a matchup between former three-belt heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. and former WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder. Outside of Anthony Joshua, Ruiz and Wilder are the biggest names in the division who aren't current world champions.
Before such a bout can occur, both guys have stern tests to pass first as Ruiz makes his in-ring return from a 16-month layoff on Sunday to take on former two-time heavyweight title challenger Luis Ortiz. Then the following month, on Oct. 15, Wilder comes back from a one-year layoff to square off with contender Robert Helenius. While the public is talking Ruiz-Wilder, the former isn't putting the cart before the horse.
"I let everyone else talk and talk their conspiracies," Ruiz told DAZN. "I'm just focused on Luis Ortiz because there's no one to look past. He's a tough guy. First, I got to beat him, and then we could talk about the next opponent. That's the way it should be instead of looking ahead of your opponent."
Ruiz (34-2, 22 KOs) could have taken a softer touch upon returning to action. Few fighters in the heavyweight division have been clamoring to face Ortiz (33-2, 28 KOs) except for Ruiz, former Ruiz foe Anthony Joshua and Wilder, who handed the Cuban his only two defeats.
"Nobody wants to fight him," Ruiz said. "Nobody wants to fight him just because of his style. He's a hard-hitting guy. I think that's going to put me back on the top after I beat him on September 4. We got to climb back up to the ladders, and I think he's one of the top 10 best heavyweights out there. I think it's a really good matchup between me and him. Either way, it is going to be a tough fight because of his style. Yeah, we're taking risks, but I feel like I have the ability to win."