Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev will take place June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a new soccer venue in London.
Pulev is Joshua’s mandatory for the IBF title. Meanwhile Joshua reclaimed all his belts from Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in December.
“Joshua’s next fight will be in London. He could make more elsewhere but he wants London, it’s where he’d love to fight. June 20 will be the date for Pulev. It’s the Joshua homecoming to London.” Hearn said.
Joshua has said he wants to unify the titles, he doesn’t care who the WBC champion is when he fights for the title, so it will be Tyson Fury.
Promoter Frank Warren claimed Deontay Wilder could launch his rematch clause with the WBC heavyweight champion Fury. Warren also wanted Fury to fight fellow Joshua in summer.
Fury beat Wilder in the seventh round at MGM Grand Arena, in Las Vegas at the weekend. The ‘Gypsy King’ sent Wilder collapsing to the canvas after landing a huge right hook that left the ‘Bronze Bomber’ bleeding from the ear.
“Everybody is very clear on this. Everybody wants this fight, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, MTK, Top Rank, Frank Warren, Matchroom.” Hearn said.
“There are some hurdles to overcome on the broadcasting, but nothing too much. I promise you this fight will happen. If we have to fight [Kubrat] Pulev, we’ve got to beat Pulev, and if he has to fight Wilder, he’s got to beat Wilder again.
“Both of those things will happen. Fury will beat Wilder again and Joshua will knock Pulev clean out, despite Bob Arum telling us very differently. You will get this fight. We will do everything that it takes to make this fight.” Hearn added.
Hearn also confirmed that WBO number one ranked heavyweight contender Oleksandr Usyk will now fight Dereck Chisora on May 23rd.
