Anthony Joshua faces conflict as WBA orders fight with Luis Ortiz

Well, this could get complicated.

Anthony Joshua’s acquisition of Wladimir Klitschko’s WBA title has left him in a bit of a bind, as the organization today announced its intention to enforce a January resolution ordering the winner of that fight to face top contender Luis Ortiz. The two have 29 days to hash out an agreement before it goes to a purse bid.

Joshua, however, is already in talks to face mandatory IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev.

Ortiz (27-0, 23 KO) once held the interim WBA strap and was part of the ill-fated WBA unification tournament. Assorted shenanigans with Alexander Ustinov and some promotional troubles have left him facing the likes of Tony Thompson, Malik Scott, and Dave Allen. He has yet to fight in 2017.

Joshua-Ortiz is by far the more interesting fight, but it’s hard to picture Eddie Hearn springing for such a risky opponent so soon after Joshua’s biggest triumph. By my thinking, it makes more financial sense to drop the WBA belt, take on Pulev, then go for a unification with Deontay Wilder.

But, then again, Eddie’s making the big bucks and I’m here blogging.