Luis Ortiz says he can beat Anthony Joshua and rule Heavyweight division

The Cuban southpaw has backed himself to beat the best that the Heavyweight division has to offer and sets his sights on a bout with IBF champion

Ortiz believes he is the best heavyweight boxer in the world (Getty )

Luis Ortiz is adamant he can beat Anthony Joshua and is willing to challenge the IBF champion whenever he is ready.

The 37-year-old has battered his way through his first 25 opponents in impressive fashion forging a reputation for himself in the heavyweight division as the fighter that everyone is trying to avoid.

Nicknamed ‘King Kong’, the Cuban man mountain has gone under the radar allowing Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder the opportunity to announce themselves on the heavyweight stage alongside boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko.

But, after becoming the first foreign fighter to sign with Eddie Hearn’s promotion, Matchroom Boxing, this could all change.

Although the powerful southpaw is preparing to take on Malik Scott in Monte Carlo this Saturday, Ortiz already has one eye on a fight with Joshua in the future.

"I want to fight the very best and I want to be the heavyweight champion of the world," Ortiz told ESPN.

"I'm willing to fight anyone, any champion, any place, any time. I'm ready for anyone: Joshua, Wilder, Klitschko. I know I can beat all of them."

"I feel I have been at my peak for many years now. I have simply been late [arriving] on the U.S. heavyweight boxing scene. I have been fighting since I was in elementary school. Boxing is a very, very deep passion of mine.

"Now, it is a way to give my family a better future, and I tell you, no one will stand in my way of accomplishing this. In my eyes, I am the heavyweight champion of the world, and if anyone, any other champion, is willing to challenge me, to face me, I can and will prove it."

Before Ortiz gets the chance to organise a bout with Joshua, the London-born fighter must take care of Eric Molina in Manchester on December 10^th.

Joshua is one of the fighters that Ortiz would love to take on (Getty)

Joshua looked set to take part in a heavyweight unification fight with Klitschko next month but their delayed talks resulted in Joshua opting to fight Molina instead.

However, now that the fight has been sanctioned by the necessary bodies, the IBF champion could potentially fight the Ukrainian at some point next year.

In spite of this and the fact that Hearn could have a conflict between two of his own fighters, the Matchroom promoter seems keen on giving Ortiz the opportunity to fight Joshua next year.

"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," Hearn said, in an interview with Sky Sports.

“People get the impression that AJ is mollycoddled, but they couldn't be more wrong. Look at the Charles 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.”