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Anthony Joshua, the unified heavyweight champion, will protect his opposite name to Kubrat Pulev in early December, a date that will give the fight the possibility of fan participation, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN.
The match was originally scheduled for June 20 at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose is to have it in London if the regulations permit.
Hearn told ESPN that he had to find a way for 30-year-old Joshua to fight this year for such a long break.
“They gave him boxing this year and it’s obviously up to me to find a solution and a crowd,” Hearn said of Joshua. “But he also knows at the same time that he has to fight because it will be a year in December of Ruiz’s fight.”
“He’s still improving, he’s still learning, and he’s not prepared to just sit out and not fight.”
His last match was a victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia last December. It is a rematch of a loss in June 2019.
There is still no constant date, however, Hearn points to the first week of December for Anthony (23-1, 21 KOs) to fight. In the past it was postponed for July, but was postponed.
“We know that AJ will only fight once this year, so we should give us the most productive opportunity to attract a crowd, and that would obviously be the most productive,” Hearn told ESPN. “But it’s still not a gift at all. There is still a very clever possibility that AJ has to fight behind closed doors.”
Hearn said December gave them “a chance to have a crowd,” as Joshua will only fight once this year. London’s O2 Arena is the favorite place, he said. Fan participation will feature government regulations.
Joshua is known for drawing giant doors. Hearn reportedly earned a payout of about $40 million for Joshua’s revenge opposite Ruiz.
Joshua holds the WBA, WMO and IMB heavyweight titles and is scheduled to take on WBC champion Tyson Fury. Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) is the challenger to the IVF and then you’ll see how to fight Tyson.
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