Thursday 13 October 2016 13:02, UK
Cuban sensation Luis Ortiz could be in line to face IBF heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua next year, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Ortiz (25-0-KO22) has joined Hearn's Matchroom Boxing stable and will make his European debut against Malik Scott in Monte Carlo in November as he looks to close in on a world title shot.
With the heavyweight landscape continuing to shift, especially after Tyson Fury vacated his WBO and WBA world titles, 'King Kong' will hope that he can get himself in prime position to take advantage.
Joshua is one potential target and Hearn sees no issue in the stablemates squaring up next year.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Luis Ortiz against Joshua could be a huge fight for 2017 and we have no problem in making that fight if it is the right move.
"People get the impression that AJ is mollycoddled, but they couldn't be more wrong. Look at the Martin fight, everyone looks back and says it was an easy fight, but at the time they were saying it was a hard fight that was coming too early.
"If the reward is there to take the risk against Ortiz, who is very dangerous, and the fight is big enough, then yes, let's do it.
"We want to build the profile of Ortiz so he can't be ignored and get him in a high value position so he can get these big fights against the best heavyweights out there."
Hearn wants Ortiz to fight twice before the year is out, including on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's next fight which could be against Wladimir Klitschko as talks continue.
"The plan is for Ortiz to fight on November 12 in Monaco against Malik Scott, then on the undercard of AJ later in the year and then get him out in the United States in February or March of next year."
