I’LL FIGHT ANYONE OUT THERE
As Miller’s failed drug test throws AJ’s US debut into turmoil, he says...
ANTHONY JOSHUA will push on with plans to fight on June 1 after Jarrell Miller was denied a boxing licence for failing a drugs test — with Adam Kownacki and Luis Ortiz the top targets to replace the American.
Sportsmail understands a shortlist of five names that also includes Kubrat Pulev, Michael Hunter and Manuel Charr has hastily been put together for the Madison Square Garden bout.
It was revealed in the early hours of yesterday morning that Miller had tested positive on March 20 for muscle growth substance GW1516 and last night it is believed that the New York State Athletic Commission denied his application for a licence.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Sportsmail: ‘I spoke to AJ on Tuesday night. It’s not an ideal situation and we have to wait and see what happens with Jarrell.
‘AJ will still be fighting June 1 in Madison Square Garden. He has told me he will fight absolutely anyone and so we are looking at our options right now.
‘Everyone will want a shot at the titles and so we have plenty of options to consider.’
Miller’s failed test, which follows another from his kickboxing days, came just a month after he had accused Joshua of doping.
At a pre-fight press conference, Miller said: ‘ This motherf**** r has TUEs (therapeutic use exemptions) for testosterone and all kinds of s***,’ a claim Joshua strongly denied. The British trio of Dillian Whyte, Dereck Chisora and Joe Joyce each expressed their interest in replacing Miller, though at this point a domestic showdown overseas is understood to be unlikely. Of the early targets, the most risky option — in light of the lack of preparation time — would be Ortiz, a tricky southpaw. The Cuban is ranked third by the WBC and eighth by the IBF, while Polish-born New Yorker Kownacki is 19-0 and ranked fifth by the WBC, fourth with the IBF and 13th by the WBA. Pulev would be an interesting option having pulled out injured from a fight with Joshua in 2017. He is ranked eight by the WBC and is 27-1. American Hunter is IBF No 10 with a 16-1 record, while Charr, who failed a doping test last year, is a regular WBA champion.
The situation is a huge frustration for IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua, who initially hoped to face Deontay Wilder in a unification, only for talks to fail.
With Tyson Fury fighting on a rival broadcaster and Whyte declining offers, Miller (left) was only fourth choice for his US debut. Now Joshua will attempt to break through stateside against a lesser name.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth champion Joyce has relocated back to London to work with Adam Booth. He had been training with Gennady Golovkin’s mentor Abel Sanchez in California since last summer. But after three fights under Sanchez, the highly-promising 33-year-old has made the switch to work with the man who led David Haye to the heavyweight world title.