Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, maintains that Luis Ortiz was their first choice to replace Jarrell Miller on June 1. Miller was pulled from the contest after testing positive for performance enhancers.

Joshua will face late replacement Andy Ruiz on the June date, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Prior to Ruiz, Hearn was attempting to secure Ortiz.

According to Hearn, Ortiz and his team were unwilling to accept the two offers that he placed on the table.

“That was AJ’s first choice. It was never ideal,” Hearn said to Boxing Social.

”That was a fight where Rob McCracken said, ‘If you want him and feel comfortable with three weeks of southpaw sparring, we’ll do it.’ We made them an offer of $6 million. That didn’t do it. We made them another offer of $7 million, that was probably eight times what he got for the Deontay Wilder fight. He still turned it down.

“It shows you everything you need to know. Who is turning it down? It is Luis Ortiz? It is his manager? Is it his adviser? Is it his promoter? Is it the network? People are starving these fighters opportunities to change their lives and it’s sad. Listen, if Ortiz wants to go next, he can have it next."

And why would Ortiz turn down an offer of $7 million, Hearn says the Cuban heavyweight was advised by someone to do so.

“They’re being told what to do,” Hearn said.

”They should be the one saying, ‘I’m taking it. $7 million, my life is complete. My kid’s life is complete. Their kids’ life is complete. I believe I can beat AJ.’

“Either they don’t believe they can beat AJ or someone is telling them not to take the fight.”