Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the frontrunner to host Anthony Joshua’s next fight against Kubrat Pulev, promoter Eddie Hearn has told talkSPORT.
Britain’s unified WBA, IBF & WBO heavyweight world champion is eyeing a homecoming fight after competing in America and Saudi Arabia last year, and looks set to get his wish in June.
Hearn told talkSPORT’s Dom McGuinness: “I have a clear instruction from Anthony Joshua that he wants his next fight to be in the UK.
“We know he’s boxed in America, he’s boxed in Saudi, he misses boxing in the UK.
“I was with him last night and we were talking about the memories of Wembley and Cardiff.
“We know that money matters to fighters, but the memories also matter and he is itching to box in the UK again.
“It’s been difficult because Kubrat Pulev doesn’t really wanna box in the UK.
“He’s a mandatory challenger, he’s saying, ‘Oh, we can get more money here, more money there.’
“Joshua’s basically put a line through that and said, ‘I don’t care, my next fight is in the UK.’
“That fight will take place in June, the frontrunner right now is Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
“We’ve still got a bit of work to do but you can expect an announcement in the next two weeks.”
With his rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr, Joshua regained the unified WBA, IBF & WBO heavyweight world titles.
In that same moment, he also regained two mandatory challengers.
The IBF set forward Pulev as their contender while the WBO nominated former undisputed cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
As the IBF’s challenger was due first, AJ will take on the Bulgarian next.
Usyk will face Derek Chisora in the meantime – likely in April – to gain more heavyweight experience.
In his last bout, Pulev defeated Rydell Booker by unanimous decision.
