Eddie Hearn has admitted it is not likely that Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will just take spot in the United kingdom, as Saudi Arabia emerges as the frontrunner to host the heavyweight title bout.
Usyk outpointed Joshua at north London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September, using the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles from the Briton in the procedure.
Joshua before long triggered a rematch clause to encounter the unbeaten Ukrainian once more, while a 2nd bout concerning the pair was practically thwarted by a phase-apart offer and then Usyk’s return to his house place amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The move-aside deal for Usyk to encounter WBC winner Tyson Fury fell by at the start out of the yr, reportedly because of to Joshua’s monetary calls for, in advance of Usyk returned to Ukraine in March to assist his nation’s defence towards the Russian invasion. The southpaw later confirmed, having said that, that he would depart the place to commence making ready for a rematch with “AJ”.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn had extended mentioned the British isles and Saudi Arabia had been the spots most likely to host the fight, but now the Matchroom main has poured chilly water on the prospect of the contest using place on property soil for Joshua.
“If contracts and web site expenses that have been made available arrive to fruition, it would make going to the Uk really tough for us to get Usyk to do, quite frankly,” Hearn advised the Mirror.
“We can see it from their stage of watch: ‘Why would I trouble likely again to England for half the cash?’
“We cannot choose a web page that pays noticeably considerably less to Usyk. We want to go to London, it would be a major advantage for AJ to take this fight again to London, but if a web-site fee generates double the funds, there’s no way Usyk will allow us to go to London.
“So, we do have to consider that into thought, but AJ just desires to battle.”
Hearn has also explained that an precise place and day for the bout will be announced this month, with July now seeming probably.
Joshua, 32, is 24-2 with 22 knockouts to his name, while former cruiserweight champion Usyk is 19- with 13 KOs.
In his rematch with Usyk, Joshua will look to once again avenge a defeat, acquiring done so in 2019 when he outpointed Andy Ruiz Jr six months right after currently being stopped by the Mexican-American.