Joe Joyce claims Luis Ortiz rejected chance to fight him
‘He didn’t want the smoke’: Joe Joyce claims Luis Ortiz rejected chance to fight him…as Brit continues to wait for world title opportunity and dreams of fighting Anthony Joshua at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium
- British boxer Joe Joyce has revealed Luis Ortiz did not want to fight him
- Ortiz has won 32 of 34 pro fights but Joyce claimed the Cuban ‘didn’t want a war’
- ‘I’m just training, waiting for my fight date’ said Joyce, who last fought in July
- Joyce plans to face Anthony Joshua for the world title at the Emirates Stadium
Joe Joyce has revealed Luis Ortiz turned down the chance to fight him, claiming the Cuban ‘didn’t want the smoke.
Joyce, 36, moved into position as mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua’s world title after beating Daniel Dubois last year.
But he faces a long wait to face Joshua, who fights Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday and could then meet Tyson Fury.
Joe Joyce has claimed Cuban fighter Luis Ortiz said no to the prospect of facing him
Joyce said Ortiz (pictured), who has won 32 out of 34 professional fights, ‘didn’t want a war’
Joyce has not fought since taking care of Carlos Takam in six rounds in July and has spoken of his struggles to find a suitable opponent.
His hopes of facing Joseph Parker were ended when the Kiwi announced he was meeting Derek Chisora and he said Ortiz, who has won 32 out of 34 fights, was fearful of facing him.
‘I’m just training, waiting for my fight date, and I should be out before the end of the year. Working on things in the gym, getting stronger, fitter, ready for a world title shot soon coming to you,’ Joyce told iFL TV.
‘That was an option [to fight Joseph Parker], but he’s obviously now going to fight Derek Chisora, and there were a few more names.
Joyce (left) beat Carlos Takam in July but faces a long wait before his next fight
Joyce is waiting to fight Anthony Joshua and wants to face him at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium
‘Ortiz was mentioned, but I’m not sure he wants the smoke. But there are other names around the area. We’ll see what we can get.’
Ortiz has beaten every fighter he has faced apart from former world champion Deontay Wilder, who knocked the Cuban out in the 10th round in 2018 and won a rematch the following year, stopping him in the seventh.
Joyce was asked to confirm whether Ortiz had rejected a showdown with him and responded: ‘Yeah. He didn’t want a war.’
Joshua will fight Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Saturday
Joyce, who is a passionate Arsenal fan, also reaffirmed his ambition to eventually fight Joshua at the Emirates Stadium.
‘That’s the plan,’ he added.
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