Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
AJ TARGETS ORTIZ AFTER MILLER’S FAILED DRUG TEST
EDDIE HEARN claims he wants Luis Ortiz to fight Anthony Joshua after Jarrell Miller failed a drugs test.
Miller has shown traces of a banned substance and will almost certainly be refused a licence to face heavyweight king Joshua at Madison Square Garden on June 1.
Hearn is scrambling around, trying to find an alternative opponent for Joshua’s much-hyped US debut and likes Ortiz (right, top).
Ortiz’s only pro loss in
32 fights was to WBC champ Deontay
Wilder last year, but the Cuban has previously failed two drugs tests.
“I love that fight,” said Joshua’s promoter Hearn.
“That’s an ideal scenario, that’s a big fight.
“I know his team, although my feeling from them was he won’t be ready. But the argument is that’s a tougher fight than Jarrell Miller.”
Hearn briefly promoted Ortiz, 40, three years ago, before the fighter opted to join his rival Al Haymon. The promoter is looking at other names and undefeated Pole Adam Kownacki (circle bottom) is attractive because he is New Yorkbased, sells tickets and has a good CV.
Kubrat Pulev (circle middle), who was due to face Joshua in October 2017 before he pulled out injured, is another possibility. The WBA’S regular champion Manuel Charr claimed on social media that Hearn has contacted him, but that would be a hard sell and he has been inactive since
November 2017.
Miller tested positive for substance GW1516, which increases power and endurance, in a test carried out by the Voluntary Antidoping Agency (VADA).
Hearn broke the news to Joshua on Tuesday night and claims the unbeaten WBA Super,
IBF and WBO champ told him he will fight anyone.
“I just said,
‘Mate, I’ve got some terrible news, Miller’s failed a drug test’,” Hearn said.
“AJ said,
‘You’re joking’.
He didn’t even sound that surprised. He asked who was next? I asked him who he wanted and he said,
‘Absolutely anyone, no problem, anyone’.”
Earlier, Hearn had said of the
Miller situation:
“We have been informed by VADA there has been an adverse finding in
Jarrell Miller’s sample collected on March 20.
“AJ’S preparation continues for June
1 at MSG.”