EDDIE HEARN has admitted that Dillian Whyte’s clash with Alexander Povetkin AND Derek Chisora’s bout against Oleksandr Usyk is set to be postponed over coronavirus.
Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s grim speech on Monday night, The British Boxing Board of Control had already cancelled all fights until April.
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Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin and Derek Chisora’s bout with Oleksandr Usyk is set to be postponed
But Hearn revealed his fears that the sport won’t be able to return until the summer, which would KO both Whyte (May 2), and rival Chisora (May 23).
Speaking during an Instagram Live session, the Matchroom promoter said: “We’ll make an announcement on Monday about Dillian Whyte, the Cardiff show in May [9] and Chisora-Usyk – May 23.
“The earliest boxing is going to start again is June.
“The earliest, in my opinion, so that’s why the shows in May we have to look at and come up with alternative dates.”
The earliest boxing is going to start again is June. The earliest, in my opinion, so that’s why the shows in May we have to look at and come up with alternative dates
Eddie Hearn
Hearn did reassure fans that tickets for the shows will still be valid before predicting how the coronavirus pandemic will shape boxing going forwards.
He added: “I think this is going to cause a lot of bigger fights to happen quicker because people are going to be inactive by the time they fight again and people are going to want to jockey for position and jump into big fights quicker.”
Hearn had previously revealed that Anthony Joshua has a back-up July date if coronavirus KOs his June 20 clash with Kubrat Pulev.
Britain’s WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight ring is supposed to defend his belts against his Bulgarian mandatory challenger at Tottenham’s new ground.
Hearn was open to hosting some of his smaller shows behind closed doors but ruled out heavyweight cards including AJ, Whyte and Chisora being staged without bumper crowds.
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Yet later on the same Instagram live, he did have some positive news as he got gaming fans excited by teasing another edition of the Fight Night video game.
The last release was Fight Night Championship for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011, meaning the series is set to miss an entire generation of consoles.
The Matchroom promoter said: “Fight Night Champion news? I’ve got a few things in the fire on Fight Night Champion.”
Dillian Whyte flees UK just days before coronavirus shutdown to train in Portugal but Povetkin fight now up in air
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
