McBride lined up to face champion Ruiz

KEVIN MCBRIDE believes he is on the brink of clinching a deal to face WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz. McBride shocked the boxing world when he beat Mike Tyson - prompting the former undisputed world champion to retire in June.

Now promoter Don King has made the Clones fighter an offer to face Ruiz. McBride’s advisor Pascal Collins - brother of former WBO super-middleweight champion Steve - has had talks with promoter King and says there is a strong possibility the fight will come to Ireland.

“King has promoted in Ireland before, when he did Ray Close and Chris Eubank and he will go anywhere. And I have already spoken to Norman Stone, who is Ruiz’s manager and he is happy to come to Ireland,” said Collins.