Will Joshua fight Usyk this summer? Or will it be Joyce, Parker II, Ruiz III, Whyte II or Ortiz?

Catching on yet?

 

Per Eddie Hearn's interview on May 24, I added Luis Ortiz and Dillian Whyte to the poll. Ortiz was mentioned by name by Hearn as a possible opponent for Joshua in the U.S. Whyte was listed as a possible opponent in the UK.

 

Eddie Hearn says earlier this week Luis Ortiz and Andy Ruiz are possibilities for Joshua in the U.S., if Joshua doesn't fight Usyk. Eddie really wants Joshua to be a big star in the U.S. But Usyk isn't a name here. Eddie wants Joshua to tap into that Latino boxing market share.

This was followed up with Luis Ortiz calling out Joshua.

In the olden days, this is what you call "putting out the feelers." Hearn was behind this as much as Ortiz.

Luis Ortiz: Usyk is Too Small, Anthony Joshua Should Fight Me!

Luis Ortiz (32-2) is hoping to get a big fight in the near future.

The former world title challenger was last in the ring in November when he blew out an overmatched Alexander Flores in 1 round in a Premier Boxing Champions on Fox telecast.

Ortiz has been calling out all of the big names in the heavyweight division but has had difficulty getting any of the top fighters to face him. Even at 42-years-old, the Cuban has proven to be a difficult opponent.

“I have been trying to get in the ring with Dillian Whyte but he refused to fight me so I went to the (Andy) Ruiz versus (Chris) Arreola fight and again I got a no, because Ruiz said he would need another tune-up,” Ortiz told *******.com.

An arbitrator recently ruled that WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury must honor a rematch clause and fight Deontay Wilder next which has indefinitely postponed the Fury versus Anthony Joshua unification bout which was slated for August.

With Fury tied up at least until the fall, Joshua is looking to fight his WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk next. Ortiz doesn’t believe the former unified cruiserweight champion has the size to be competitive with Joshua.

“So now that Joshua versus Fury can’t be done, I feel that me and Joshua would be an explosive fight so Eddie (Hearn), Joshua, Jay (Jimenez), Luis DeCubas Jr, (Al) Haymon - I’m here and I’m ready. Let’s try and make this happen. Why wait? You already have the date. Don’t fight Usyk, he’s too small for you. He is a cruiserweight. Give me a shot."

 

That's followed by this today ... Joshua is tired of fighting mandatories ...

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I might change my pick to Luis Ortiz.

 

That would be funny if 2021 ended with Deontay Wilder (WBC champ), Luis Ortiz (WBA and IBF champ) and Joyce (WBO champ) on top.

With Fury, Joshua and Usyk having been smashed and looking in from the outside.