Deontay Wilder called out for battle of the former heavyweight champions

Deontay Wilder has been called out by a former world champion who, despite his lack of activity in recent years, is now seeking a return to the ring.

Wilder has not exactly been the most prolific of heavyweights either, with the American ending a year-long layoff against Tyrrell Herndon in June.

The former WBC ruler looked a faded version of his former self before stopping his rival in the seventh round of his otherwise uneventful comeback fight.

Prior to that, Wilder had suffered a truly punishing fifth-round stoppage loss to Zhilei Zhang, which followed an equally one-sided, albeit less devastating, points defeat to Joseph Parker in 2023.

Hoping to tempt ‘The Bronze Bomber’ into an all-American dust-up is Andy Ruiz Jr, who has not fought since his controversial draw with Jarrell Miller in August 2024.

The former unified champion suffered a hand injury early in the fight, losing momentum and leaving many fans believing that Miller should have emerged victorious.

Ruiz has not quite lived up to his true potential since causing an almighty upset against Anthony Joshua, who he dethroned with a stunning seventh-round finish in 2019. He believes a link up with former trainer Manny Robles will see him back firing.

But while the 36-year-old has now called for fights with Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Joshua – all of which are unlikely to materialise – he has, while speaking with Covers, also expressed his interest in a more realistic matchup with Wilder.

“Usyk, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Wilder for sure – [all] four of them. Those are the big names.”

Wilder recently revealed that he plans to return in January, but no announcement has yet been made on an opponent. He and Ruiz both teased a fight on social media earlier this year, making the intriguing clash a real possibility for later in 2026.