Joshua wants to fight Ortiz !

[ValMar]

Hearn claims that Joshua wants to face Ortiz as replacement for Miller. What do you think about this possibility ?

[jamamb]

ortiz would be good to take, ort is overrated by by many so it would look good for josh to smash him. its the best guy outside fury/wilder who he hasnt already beat.

luis loves the peds himself though, could be another failure!

[tiny_acres]

I don't think Ortiz or any serious challenger is going to take the fight on 6 weeks notice.

[Enlightened-One]

Hearn claims that Joshua wants to face Ortiz as replacement for Miller. What do you think about this possibility ?

If the forty something year old veteran Cuban hasn’t kept himself in shape, since Ortiz isn’t scheduled to fight, but does a money grab and takes the AJ bout anyway, he’ll get destroyed within six rounds.

Luis Ortiz won’t be able to be competitive against Anthony Joshua if he isn’t at 100% peak physical condition.

[ValMar]

I have no dilemma - Ortiz would be the best choice, considering Joshua's five men list (Ortiz, Pulev, Hunter, Charr, Kownacki) of potential opponents for June.

Pulev has no chance, because of his style. I can not imagine him to outjab Joshua, and jab is the best Pulev's weapon.
Hunter is to green at HW.
Charr might be somewhere between #25 and # 35 HW right now. It would be a mismatch, literally.
Kownacki should face at least two or three decent/very decent opponents before considering to face Joshua. He might be a solid challenger, but, not now, maybe in 2021.

[dickbelden]

sounds like CHARR wants it.

[Thomastearns]

ortiz would be good to take, ort is overrated by by many so it would look good for josh to smash him. its the best guy outside fury/wilder who he hasnt already beat.

luis loves the peds himself though, could be another failure!

Ortiz would be a great way for Joshua make his US debut. But yes, that would be another risk. If Luis failed a test (again) the whole sport starts to look ridiculous.

Not the kind of publicity DAZN were hoping to attract. You'd need Oscar or Mauricio to try and spin that one.

[KiwiRider]

If Joshua smashes Ortiz about and stops him early, I think Wilder would be even less keen to fight AJ in the future.
The only result I can see if Joshua Vs Ortiz is a one sided beatdown with an early stoppage.

[Pukka Cheese]

Ortiz has won the lottery here.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

That's Hearns go get Ortiz now when he didn't prepare for the fight I hope it happens and the plan backfires

[oogiebe]

That's Hearns go get Ortiz now when he didn't prepare for the fight I hope it happens and the plan backfires

I thought Ortiz turned it down due to short notice. Same for Whyte.

[Onetimeonly]

I thought Ortiz turned it down due to short notice. Same for Whyte.

Hard to imagine why Ortiz would turn it down unless the money was ridiculous. Eddie is in a bad way with this dazn deal.

[candyslim]

AJ wants Wilder so a good strategy would be to eliminate from contention those opponents who are (aaa) respectable enough that they could fight for the WBC title without Wilder getting in the neck for fighting another bum yet (bbb) not so intimidating that team Wilder would prefer to give them a swerve.

So who's in the "Goldilocks Zone"? Number one that springs to my mind is Adam Kownacki. He fits the bill and I imagine he features highly in Haymon's potential opponents list. Joshua should fight him and remove him from the list of viable WBC challengers. Crushing Ortiz would be another step. When Wilder is left with a choice of defending against the likes of Whyte or Miller (once Miller's done his pennance) rather than a Breazeale or a Kownacki, he might be more inclined to face Joshua.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'd be very happy if Ortiz was the replacement. Would be reminiscent of Lewis taking on Vitali when another fat slob, Kirk Johnson, withdrew from the fight.

It's a bad situation for Hearn, and going to be hard to get a decent fight at such short notice.

Has the 'B' sample come back yet?

[Onetimeonly]

AJ wants Wilder so a good strategy would be to eliminate from contention those opponents who are (aaa) respectable enough that they could fight for the WBC title without Wilder getting in the neck for fighting another bum yet (bbb) not so intimidating that team Wilder would prefer to give them a swerve.

So who's in the "Goldilocks Zone"? Number one that springs to my mind is Adam Kownacki. He fits the bill and I imagine he features highly in Haymon's potential opponents list. Joshua should fight him and remove him from the list of viable WBC challengers. Crushing Ortiz would be another step. When Wilder is left with a choice of defending against the likes of Whyte or Miller (once Miller's done his pennance) rather than a Breazeale or a Kownacki, he might be more inclined to face Joshua.

Wilder and aj both want to fight, they're just swirling around in financial logistics while hearn realizes Americans don't care about boxing but the fight probably makes more money here. Wilder voluntarily fought Ortiz and fury, Joshua doesn't need to peg off kownacki. Lmao

[joshj909]

Kownacki says he's not ready.

Hearn said Ortiz's team said they didn't seem like they'd be ready but there are also reports of him asking for $10m. Either of which unfortunately takes him out of the running.

Pulev is suspended until atleast mid-May.

Hunter and Charr are unfortunately the options that remain. Hopefully they chuck a few more million at Ortiz and convince him it will be his last chance at gold.

[dagilechia]

it gonna be Hunter imo

[candyslim]

Wilder and aj both want to fight, they're just swirling around in financial logistics while hearn realizes Americans don't care about boxing but the fight probably makes more money here. Wilder voluntarily fought Ortiz and fury, Joshua doesn't need to peg off kownacki. Lmao

Wilder didn't take on Ortiz until his team thought it was safe. Officially 39 years old but rumoured to be up to ten years older, taking pills for his blood pressure. How dangerous could he be?

Fury? Oh boy the guy hasn't fought for 3 years (you can't count Seferi or Pianeta as fights) He's a manic depressive who hasn't just been on the couch for 3 years but who binged on booze, drugs and junk-food putting on over 100lbs in weight. It must have looked to Team Wilder like taking candy from a baby.

Wilder would never have been allowed to face either of them if it was known how tough those fights were going to be.

They are still scouring the horizon for an opponent whose name will enhance Wilder's resume, yet who should be an acceptable level of risk now. Oh look there's rumours that Wlad is making a comeback.

That's not hate. That's just telling it like it is.

[Onetimeonly]

Wilder didn't take on Ortiz until his team thought it was safe. Officially 39 years old but rumoured to be up to ten years older, taking pills for his blood pressure. How dangerous could he be?

Fury? Oh boy the guy hasn't fought for 3 years (you can't count Seferi or Pianeta as fights) He's a manic depressive who hasn't just been on the couch for 3 years but who binged on booze, drugs and junk-food putting on over 100lbs in weight. It must have looked to Team Wilder like taking candy from a baby.

Wilder would never have been allowed to face either of them if it was known how tough those fights were going to be.

They are still scouring the horizon for an opponent whose name will enhance Wilder's resume, yet who should be an acceptable level of risk now. Oh look there's rumours that Wlad is making a comeback.

That's not hate. That's just telling it like it is.

[Enlightened-One]

it gonna be Hunter imo

Can anyone notice a coincidence about the timings of these events?

• 7th February: Jarrell Miller is named as Anthony Joshua’s opponent for the 1st June
• 20th March: Jarrell Miller submitted the adverse drug test administered by VADA
• 5th April: Michael Hunter is added to the 25th May Olkesandr Usyk undercard
• 10th April: It was officially announced that Michael Hunter has been added to the Matchroom stable
• 17th April: The announcement was made about Jarrell Miller’s failed VADA test and licence withdrawal
• 17th April: Several media outlets are claiming that Michael Hunter is the most likely candidate to replace Jarrell Miller as Anthony Joshua’s opponent on the 1st June

Did Eddie Hearn receive some sort of heads-up of Miller’s failed drug test in advance of the official announcement and attempted to cover his bases by signing Michael Hunter in order to ensure that Anthony Joshua was able to defend all three of his titles against an American in-house fighter?

How many American heavyweights does the Matchroom stable have? When you've read the above timeline, the answer probably won't suprise you.

Who knows? Perhaps I’m wrong, but does anyone really believe in coincidences nowadays?

[kbackup408]

Can anyone notice a coincidence about the timings of these events?

• 7th February: Jarrell Miller is named as Anthony Joshua’s opponent for the 1st June
• 20th March: Jarrell Miller submitted the adverse drug test administered by VADA
• 5th April: Michael Hunter is added to the 25th May Olkesandr Usyk undercard
• 10th April: It was officially announced that Michael Hunter has been added to the Matchroom stable
• 17th April: The announcement was made about Jarrell Miller’s failed VADA test and licence withdrawal
• 17th April: Several media outlets are claiming that Michael Hunter is the most likely candidate to replace Jarrell Miller as Anthony Joshua’s opponent on the 1st June

Did Eddie Hearn receive some sort of heads-up of Miller’s failed drug test in advance of the official announcement and attempted to cover his bases by signing Michael Hunter in order to ensure that Anthony Joshua was able to defend all three of his titles against an American in-house fighter?

How many American heavyweights does the Matchroom stable have? When you've read the above timeline, the answer probably won't suprise you.

Who knows? Perhaps I’m wrong, but does anyone really believe in coincidences nowadays?

to be fair that timeline does look super suspicious (got my conspiracy hat tingling) - but I had a feeling Hunter was going to sign to matchroom, edward was heaping a lot of praise back end of 2018!

[Oiky]

But Ortiz and the others aren't ready......embarassing,says it all when you turn down a chance to fight for 3 belts,earn good money and face one of the top of your division

If you don't have the heart for top fights then get out of the sport

I've been a critic of Joshua's many times,but whoever he ends up fighting it's not his fault

Excuse making from the possible step ins is shameful

[tiny_acres]

But Ortiz and the others aren't ready......embarassing,says it all when you turn down a chance to fight for 3 belts,earn good money and face one of the top of your division

If you don't have the heart for top fights then get out of the sport

I've been a critic of Joshua's many times,but whoever he ends up fighting it's not his fault

Excuse making from the possible step ins is shameful

You can not blame a serious contender for not having enough time to prepare for the fight.
No it is not Joshua's fault but it's not the contenders either

[Enlightened-One]

It seems that Dillian Whyte, Luis Ortiz, Adam Kownacki and Kubrat Pulev have all been ruled out as potential opponents to face Anthony Joshua on the 1st June.

Eddie Hearn explained that he only wants AJ to face a WBA, WBO & IBF top-15 ranked opponent that is either an American or is based in the US, which I guess narrows down the potential list of opponents somewhat.

I can't think of any other fighter that fits the bill, apart from Michael Hunter, since he fulfils the above criteria and he is also a member of the Matchroom stable, ensuring that Eddie Hearn retains the promotional control over the WBA, WBO & IBF world heavyweight titles, regardless the outcome of the June 1st bout.

[jamamb]

You can not blame a serious contender for not having enough time to prepare for the fight.
No it is not Joshua's fault but it's not the contenders either

i can blame them for not staying in shape and training between fights, hell if your in the gym and dedicated, a 6-7 week hard camp is decent, and of course payday likely very good too. a guy like ortiz (who never got more then 500k i dont think) should never moan again about being ducked if he turns this down