Michael Hunter to be confirmed on Tuesday

[greg]

Povetkin competed on the undercard. His bout against David Price was considered a needless mismatch. He was the replacement opponent. Other people from this forum, such as boxing rocks, claimed this was the case also.

..assumed/claimed can be anything, I've seen no proof so far..

[greg]

...
Decent promoters ensure they have replacements lined-up due to first choice fighters withdrawing from marquee bouts.

..looking forward to see how it pans out this time...

[Enlightened-One]

..assumed/claimed can be anything, I've seen no proof so far..

Hearn said so on iFL TV.

Whenever AJ competes, Matchroom usually ensures that one of their world-rated heavyweights are competing around the same fight-date.

When Canelo competes, GBP ensures that one of their world-rated middleweights are competing around the same fight-date.

Check for yourself, these aren’t coincidences. Nobody had heard about Takam being the stand-by opponent until Pulev withdrew. The same rule applies for other stand-in’s also.

Promoters tend to create contingency plans to protect PPV events.

[oogiebe]

Tuesday has come and gone.

Anyone confirmed yet?

Didn't think so.

How long before Cinco de Mayo weekend last year was Martiroysan selected as a Golovkin opponent?

I'm starting to hope that Hearn and AJ get stuck with Artur Szpilka. If I can't have a great fight, let them suck on the tailpipe.

[Rob3_142]

When AJ was scheduled to face Kubrat Pulev, Eddie Hearn already had Carlos Takam lined-up as the Bulgarian’s replacement. The Frenchman was even told well beforehand to prepare himself for this bout.

When Anthony Joshua was scheduled to face Joseph Parker, Eddie Hearn employed the services of Alexander Povetkin as the potential stand-in, with the Russian competing on the undercard.

I strongly suspect that Eddie Hearn assumed Michael Hunter was the backup for Jarrell Miller for at least the last three weeks, with Matchroom currently doing their best to find someone better in order to minimise the media backlash or to create the illusion that they at least made offers to other fighters that were subsequently rejected.

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

• 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 Matchroom fighter?

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

That timeline is pretty damning...

[ewenhay]

Hearn said so on iFL TV.

Whenever AJ competes, Matchroom usually ensures that one of their world-rated heavyweights are competing around the same fight-date.

When Canelo competes, GBP ensures that one of their world-rated middleweights are competing around the same fight-date.

Eddie Hearn (or any other promoter) doing an interview is not proof of anything. It's one man expressing an opinion in public knowing that the public have no way of verifying anything he is saying as fact.

[SenorPipino]

I'm starting to hope that Hearn and AJ get stuck with Artur Szpilka. If I can't have a great fight, let them suck on the tailpipe.

If it came down to Szpilka, it's time to pull the plug and let this card die a graceful death.

[Enlightened-One]

Eddie Hearn (or any other promoter) doing an interview is not proof of anything. It's one man expressing an opinion in public knowing that the public have no way of verifying anything he is saying as fact.

Eddie Hearn making claims about Matchroom’s plans isn’t an opinion. Have you ever watched the iFL TV YouTube channel? The videos aren’t opinion pieces, we’re watching the proverbial horse’s mouth explain things.

Kugan Cassius has loads of lengthy video interviews with Eddie Hearn, which is proof.

[ewenhay]

Eddie Hearn making claims about Matchroom’s plans isn’t an opinion. Have you ever watched the iFL TV YouTube channel? The videos aren’t opinion pieces, we’re watching the proverbial horse’s mouth explain things.

Kugan Cassius has loads of lengthy video interviews with Eddie Hearn, which is proof.

Interviews with promoters are not proof of anything. They aren't exactly reliable witnesses with a track record of telling the truth.

[oogiebe]

Interviews with promoters are not proof of anything. They aren't exactly reliable witnesses with a track record of telling the truth.

100%. Anyone relying on what a promoter says is a babe in the woods. Arum says Wilder/Fury rematch will do 2 million views!!!

[Rob3_142]

@EO...is there any credible proof Povetkin being a potential stand-in for Parker, I just don't happen to remember it...another thing: if Hearn planned if fact Hunter as a replacement, he looks pretty much desperate if not helpless today, not HIS fault mind you..

I don't think you necessarily need proof per se. The fact that Povetkin was on the undercard (someone who was renowned as a powerhouse in negotiations, even dragging Klitschko to Russia for their fight) was on the undercard. They're either trying to introduce him to the British casual audience, or he was on standby for Joshua (if not both).

[greg]

I don't think you necessarily need proof per se. The fact that Povetkin was on the undercard (someone who was renowned as a powerhouse in negotiations, even dragging Klitschko to Russia for their fight) was on the undercard. They're either trying to introduce him to the British casual audience, or he was on standby for Joshua (if not both).

Rob, Povetkin being a lame duck at that point, he and Ryabinski were (..still are) more than happy to fight almost anyone anywhere and Britain being of course a very prestigious location...neither Ryabinski nor Povetkin himself ever mentioned that he was looked at as a replacement, not to my knowledge anyway..

[Rob3_142]

Fact of the matter is I don't know. Neither of us can produce 'evidence' to support either theories, so all we have is anecdotal evidence.

It makes perfect sense to have contingencies in place for massive investments. It's how good business works.

[oogiebe]

Fact of the matter is I don't know. Neither of us can produce 'evidence' to support either theories, so all we have is anecdotal evidence.

It makes perfect sense to have contingencies in place for massive investments. It's how good business works.

It does make perfect sense, and injuries and drug fails have been part of the sport for a long time. So one can assume there is always a contingency plan. Or should be.

[Rob3_142]

Think of Joshua's last 4 fights, he would have had to flat cancel two of them had they not had a backup.

The Takam replacement was okay, but nothing more than that. I expect the same here, except in the middle of the night. Probably won't get up for it.

[tiny_acres]

Think of Joshua's last 4 fights, he would have had to flat cancel two of them had they not had a backup.

The Takam replacement was okay, but nothing more than that. I expect the same here, except in the middle of the night. Probably won't get up for it.

I thought Takam fight was a huge disappointment when it was announced.
By far one of the worst substitutes they could of got at the time

[ewenhay]

Still no announcement?

In Hearn's defence when he said Tuesday, he didn't specify which Tuesday

[oogiebe]

Still no announcement?

In Hearn's defence when he said Tuesday, he didn't specify which Tuesday

LOL!!!

[tiny_acres]

Still no announcement?

In Hearn's defence when he said Tuesday, he didn't specify which Tuesday

Probably be the Tuesday after The fight

[SenorPipino]

Probably be the Tuesday after The fight

[stellar]

when will it be announced?

[candyslim]

Ortiz had until Tuesday to accept or decline the offer. He has declined but is holding out for more money as I understand it (no confirmation but I heard he wants $10m).

This is an important occasion for AJ, Hearn and DAZN so obviously they would prefer an opponent who will excite fans rather than the disappointing fallback option of Hunter.

These things take time anyway even with good faith from both sides, but It's in Haymon's interest to fukc up the DAZN Joshua debut.

How can he best achieve that? By keeping Ortiz dangling as a possible opponent without ever intending to allow him to fight. That way it causes maximum disruption to the opposition.

Blame Hearn all you like but it wasn't him who failed three drug tests.

[Enlightened-One]

Eddie Hearn has claimed that Michael Hunter and Andy Ruiz are the only fighters in the running to become AJ's June 1st opponent.

[candyslim]

That's what I heard that but since then this talk of Ortiz wanting more money has cropped up. This is all just talk on media/ social media, so who knows whether it's true or not?

[Rob3_142]

Eddie Hearn has claimed that Michael Hunter and Andy Ruiz are the only fighters in the running to become AJ's June 1st opponent.

Oh dear. I'd prefer to just pay the $10m and have done with it. You only get one chance at a debut!