Joshua Wants To Face The Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Winner
IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is ready and willing to fight winner of the potential showdown between WBC champion Deontay Wilder and undefeated challenger Luis Ortiz, according to the unified champion's promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua is slated to make a mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria, likely on October 28th Cardiff. If Joshua comes through his IBF obligation, he would then have to make a mandatory defense against the WBA's challenger, which is Ortiz.
But he can avoid the possibility of an Ortiz fight, if Wilder faces the dangerous Cuban in November.
If Wilder defeats Ortiz, then it would set up a showdown with Joshua in the summer of 2018, says Hearn.
"As I'm hearing it, Ortiz could fight Wilder which is a great fight. If he does, we'd like to fight the winner," Hearn told Sky Sports. "AJ is up for fighting anyone.
"It brings a unification fight closer, rather than waiting for next summer. We've got an IBF mandatory to take care of. Then we've got a WBA mandatory to take care of, which could be Ortiz."
The World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has already backed a potential Wilder-Joshua unification. The sanctioning body head assures that his organization will do everything possible to push through a Wilder vs. Joshua fight.
"We will do whatever is possible and necessary to make it happen. That's the fight everybody wants to see. Joshua is a tremendous attraction and a positive role model, and Wilder is the same," Sulaiman said.
"Two undefeated champions should meet in the ring as soon as possible. Both have commitments to finish, so next year is the time to meet."
Both Wilder and Ortiz are advised by Al Haymon, who is very friendly with Hearn. There won't be any network issues either. Joshua has an exclusive television deal with Showtime, which is the same network Wilder and Ortiz are aligned with as well.
IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is ready and willing to fight winner of the potential showdown between WBC champion Deontay Wilder and undefeated challenger Luis Ortiz, according to the unified champion's promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua is slated to make a mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria, likely on October 28th Cardiff. If Joshua comes through his IBF obligation, he would then have to make a mandatory defense against the WBA's challenger, which is Ortiz.
But he can avoid the possibility of an Ortiz fight, if Wilder faces the dangerous Cuban in November.
If Wilder defeats Ortiz, then it would set up a showdown with Joshua in the summer of 2018, says Hearn.
"As I'm hearing it, Ortiz could fight Wilder which is a great fight. If he does, we'd like to fight the winner," Hearn told Sky Sports. "AJ is up for fighting anyone.
"It brings a unification fight closer, rather than waiting for next summer. We've got an IBF mandatory to take care of. Then we've got a WBA mandatory to take care of, which could be Ortiz."
The World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has already backed a potential Wilder-Joshua unification. The sanctioning body head assures that his organization will do everything possible to push through a Wilder vs. Joshua fight.
"We will do whatever is possible and necessary to make it happen. That's the fight everybody wants to see. Joshua is a tremendous attraction and a positive role model, and Wilder is the same," Sulaiman said.
"Two undefeated champions should meet in the ring as soon as possible. Both have commitments to finish, so next year is the time to meet."
Both Wilder and Ortiz are advised by Al Haymon, who is very friendly with Hearn. There won't be any network issues either. Joshua has an exclusive television deal with Showtime, which is the same network Wilder and Ortiz are aligned with as well.