By Radio Rahim
Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, has come out swinging in the direction of contender Luis Ortiz and his handlers.
Ortiz was under serious consideration to face Joshua on June 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Joshua, who is making his United States debut, was going to face unbeaten contender Jarrell Miller, is now hunting for a new opponent.
Miller was pulled from the fight for failing three pre-fight drug tests, as the boxer came up positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Hearn then made a very lucrative offer to Ortiz. The starting offer was $5 million, but then reportedly raised the amount with subsequent offers.
Some members of Ortiz's team claimed that Hearn sent them a "lowball" offer for the fight, but the boxer and some of his other team members were not happy with how the negotiations were handled.
The promoter told Hearn that Ortiz has been promised a rematch with Wilder in the fall.
"I will tell you next week what Luis Ortiz was offered for that fight, and I better hope that for Luis Ortiz's sake, and for his kids' sake and their kids' sake - that it was as much money that they are going to get for this supposed Deontay Wilder fight," Hearn said.
"And are you really going to tell me that you've already been offered and guaranteed a Deontay Wilder fight, yet this man [Wilder] and his team are talking about are talking about Joshua not wanting the undisputed fight, but they have set up two fights already after the Dominic Breazeale fight, that's how serious they are."
Hearn is very confident that Joshua would handle Ortiz with no issues.
"Is he the boogeyman? Joshua would destroy Luis Ortiz in three rounds - no problem. And I'll tell you what, if Luis Ortiz wants to sign a contract after June 1, we'll sign a contract to do that as well," Hearn said.
