Eddie Hearn claims he wants Luis Ortiz to fight Anthony Joshua after Jarrell Miller failed a drugs test.
Miller has shown traces of a banned substance and will almost certainly be refused a licence to face heavyweight king Joshua at Madison Square Garden on June 1.
Hearn is scrambling around, trying to find an alternative opponent for Joshua’s much-hyped US debut and likes Ortiz.
Ortiz’s only pro loss in 32 fights was to WBC champ Deontay Wilder last year, but the Cuban has previously failed two drugs tests.
“I love that fight,” said Joshua’s promoter Hearn. “That’s an ideal scenario, that’s a big fight.
Anthony Joshua's potential opponents if Jarrell Miller is banned for failed drugs test
“I know his team, although my feeling from them was he won’t be ready. But the argument is that’s a tougher fight than Jarrell Miller.”
Hearn briefly promoted Ortiz three years ago before he opted to join his rival Al Haymon.
Hearn is looking at other names and undefeated Pole Adam Kownacki is attractive because he is New York-based, sells tickets and has a good CV.
Kubrat Pulev, who was due to face Joshua in October 2017 before he pulled out injured, is another possibility.
The WBA’s regular champion Manuel Charr has claimed on social media that Hearn has contacted him, but that would be a hard sell and he has been inactive since November 2017.
Miller tested positive for substance GW1516, which increases power and endurance, in a test carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).
Hearn broke the news to Joshua on Tuesday night and claims the unbeaten WBA Super, IBF and WBO champ told him he will fight anyone.
“I just said mate, I’ve got some terrible news, Miller’s failed a drug test,” he said.
“He said ‘you’re joking’. He didn’t even sound that surprised. He said who’s next? I asked him who he wanted and he said ‘absolutely anyone, no problem, anyone’.”
