07-13-2017, 02:00 PM
Luis Ortiz Manager: Joshua Must Face Us Next, Not Klitschko!
By Ryan Burton
WBA mandatory challenger Luis "King Kong" Ortiz (27-0) is fully recovered from a hand injury suffered while training for his aborted April fight against Derric Rossy. The fight was supposed to be his debut fighting under Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions' banner.
A few weeks after Ortiz's injury, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua got off the canvas to stop Wladimir Klitschko in 11 rounds to add the vacant WBA and IBO belts to his collection.
Klitschko is contractually entitled to a rematch but Ortiz's team insists that their mandatory status takes precedence over the rematch clause.
In an article that was published on BoxingScene.com earlier today, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn and manager Freddie Cunningham were headed to Las Vegas to meet with execs from the MGM to discuss the possibility of the fight taking place in Sin City.
Ortiz's manager Jay Jimenez said that they can speak to whomever they desire but that in the event that Klitschko decides to come back for a rematch, Joshua must face Ortiz first.
"He can meet with them all he wants but I know when we spoke to Jorge Carmenate (President of Dade Promotions, Ortiz's promoter) he stated that in a letter from the WBA - there is a contractual agreement from the WBA - and if they break it we will win a lawsuit and expose the WBA for violating the Muhammad Ali act for intentionally hurting a boxer's career," said Jimenez.
Jimenez said that Ortiz is working hard but admits that his fighter is frustrated by the lack of headway being made in securing a title shot.
"Luis has been training hard since last month and he will come in his best shape ever but he's becoming frustrated with the WBA hold up," Jimenez told BoxingScene.com.
By Ryan Burton
WBA mandatory challenger Luis "King Kong" Ortiz (27-0) is fully recovered from a hand injury suffered while training for his aborted April fight against Derric Rossy. The fight was supposed to be his debut fighting under Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions' banner.
A few weeks after Ortiz's injury, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua got off the canvas to stop Wladimir Klitschko in 11 rounds to add the vacant WBA and IBO belts to his collection.
Klitschko is contractually entitled to a rematch but Ortiz's team insists that their mandatory status takes precedence over the rematch clause.
In an article that was published on BoxingScene.com earlier today, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn and manager Freddie Cunningham were headed to Las Vegas to meet with execs from the MGM to discuss the possibility of the fight taking place in Sin City.
Ortiz's manager Jay Jimenez said that they can speak to whomever they desire but that in the event that Klitschko decides to come back for a rematch, Joshua must face Ortiz first.
"He can meet with them all he wants but I know when we spoke to Jorge Carmenate (President of Dade Promotions, Ortiz's promoter) he stated that in a letter from the WBA - there is a contractual agreement from the WBA - and if they break it we will win a lawsuit and expose the WBA for violating the Muhammad Ali act for intentionally hurting a boxer's career," said Jimenez.
Jimenez said that Ortiz is working hard but admits that his fighter is frustrated by the lack of headway being made in securing a title shot.
"Luis has been training hard since last month and he will come in his best shape ever but he's becoming frustrated with the WBA hold up," Jimenez told BoxingScene.com.