Anthony Joshua wants his biggest British fight on British soil, and Eddie Hearn says the contract backs him up.
Hearn told ESPN that no one has asked for Joshua’s long-discussed heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury to be moved to the United States, despite rising speculation that Las Vegas could host the fight.
“We’ve had no request or conversation yet for that fight to take place anywhere else other than the U.K.,” Hearn said.
The fight is being bankrolled by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, and is expected to stream on Netflix. Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, both in London, were early favorites to stage the matchup before Las Vegas rumors began picking up steam.
Hearn said Joshua was firm about where he wanted the fight when the deal was made.
“When we signed the contract,” he explained, “it’s very clear in the contract, the fight has to take place in the U.K. It’s not: ‘It might.’ It has to.”
“AJ was quite insistent on that because of the importance of the fight,” Hearn added.
Alalshikh said this week that the site has not been decided, and Hearn admitted the contract could be renegotiated if needed.
“If he presents a reason and an opportunity that that fight should take place elsewhere, we’re not going to be difficult about it,” Hearn added. “I’m in AJ’s corner,” he said. “All I want is that fight to take place.”