“The First Weekend of December” – Eddie Hearn Drops Blockbuster Announcement Regarding Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua knows that a blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury is approaching rapidly. However, the stakes of the match against ‘The Gypsy King‘ depend on ‘AJ’ successfully holding onto his belts in his next mandatory defense.

Earlier the match was to take place at the English soccer team Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium in London in June. However, the proposed bout was nixed due to the coronavirus. Additionally, the bout was absent from the fight cards to be held at the Matchroom Promoter Eddie Hearn’s garden in the summer. 

Now, as per ESPN, the bout has another tentative date. This will be in the first week of December, where Hearn hopes to fight in front of a crowd. 

Eddie Hearn wants Anthony Joshua to compete before a live audience

However, the presence of a crowd depends on the pandemic situation in the weeks leading up to the event. Hearn also acknowledges the possibility that ‘AJ’ who has defended his belt in sold-out arenas could eventually fight behind closed doors.

But his reasoning for the December match is to ensure that two things happen. First, the promoter doesn’t wish his star pugilist to be inactive for over 12 months.

‘AJ’ last competed in December 2019, where he beat Andy Ruiz Jr in 12 rounds. By doing so, he avenged his only professional career loss to date and reclaimed his unified world titles.

Second, Hearn wants to give the match a possibility of being contested with fans present in the stadium. He said, “Bearing in mind he’s only going to fight once this year, I just feel as we might as well give ourselves every chance to have a crowd and that will be the first weekend of December.

“We know AJ’s only going to fight once this year, so we want to give ourselves the best opportunity to bring in a crowd, and that would obviously be the later the better.”

Hearn is targeting the O2 arena for the match, but in 2020 nothing can be certain. Joshua and Pulev will no doubt be hoping to slug it out before a live audience. Furthermore, fans will keep their fingers crossed that they can see the action unfold from the stands. 

Do you see Eddie Hearn’s plan of an Anthony Joshua match in December working out in terms of having a crowd present?

Source: ESPN, AJ- BoxRec