ANTHONY JOSHUA IS set to find out who his next world title defence will be against early next week with promoter Eddie Hearn keen for an American-based challenger.
The Briton was due to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts against Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden on 1 June.
However, that bout has been thrown in jeopardy after Miller was refused a boxing licence for an “adverse finding” from a drugs test.
Hearn has a shortlist of potential replacements as Miller – who has denied wrongdoing and appealed against the decision to deny him a licence – awaits the results of a B-sample.
“Obviously it’s a fight in America, so from our point of view, we would like an American challenger really,” Hearn told Sky Sports News. “I don’t think it will be Dillian Whyte.
You go through the list [there's] Luis Ortiz, Adam Kownacki, Michael Hunter, Manuel Charr, Agit Kabayel, the European champion who beat Dereck Chisora.
“There’s probably seven or eight guys I think would fit the bill. Being an American debut, in an ideal world we would like it to be an American, or someone that fights in America.
“We’re going through that and we’re going to be working hard in the next couple of days.
There will be an announcement from us in the early part of next week, locking in Anthony Joshua’s next opponent.”
Ortiz is seen as a favourable option by Hearn, but he believes it would be a difficult fight to make.
“Luis Ortiz was one of the first people that I spoke to actually, his manager, a guy called Jay Jimenez, who we’ve worked with before,” Hearn added.
“He told me it was too short notice. I disagreed with him, but they are going to be speaking to their fighter.
I think the Luis Ortiz fight is a great fight, he has been promised the Deontay Wilder fight as well, by his team, which is a bit worrying for us to hear that news.
“I’m not sure if Ortiz is going to be the guy. Like I said, everyone has been calling.”
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looks like he’s got no where else Togo
He’s had a lot of free time for the last 3 years !!
players like this are a cancer on the game
It’s not his fault clubs are so stupid it was well known what he was like before he signed for Spurs what type of player he was and they still gave him £100,000 a week for 4 years..
Barry, that’s a narrow minded comment.
Football is a job at the end of the day.
Adebayor has effectively managed himself into a situation that’s known as a “handy number” where I’m from!
He’s now paid more to do less than when he first started working in his life.
He’s not a cancer on the game.
The broadcasters, UEFA, FIFA, etc are the problem here. Adebayor is simply an employee riding out the Celtic Tiger years of football.
Good on him
Yep I’m with Adebayor on this. Not his fault the club gave him a massive contract. I just don’t get why the club don’t offer to pay up his contract rather than having him still on the payroll
Ah Barry. Poor comment bud. Or at least try back it up…
Beano, the funny thing is they did try to buy out his contract bit he wanted more than they were willing to pay
Waster ! Many a player out there who’s career has ended early because of injury, he’ll try and get his contract terminated next
He’s willing to play they won’t play him.. I don’t blame him for not moving no other club are stupid enough to give him £100,000 a week so he has every right to see it out..
When he spoke to villa , he supposedly looked for a sign off God for him to sign – to top it off he wanted his contract paid in full by Spurs – yes , Fifa , Sky and UEFA have caused this but adeboyer is a waste too
I sense another lengthy Facebook post coming…