KUBRAT PULEV insisted he is happy to fight Anthony Joshua behind closed doors if the coronavirus pandemic KO’s their title fight at Tottenham’s stadium in the summer.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is sweating after the British Board of Boxing Control cancelled all events until at least the end of April, where they will re-evaluate this situation.
Kubrat Pulev is happy to fight Anthony Joshua behind closed doors amid coronavirus
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As COVID-19 continues to sweep the globe, Hearn has a back up date in July with Joshua’s mandatory defence against Pulev – set for June 20 in the capital – facing the axe.
But 38-year-old Bulgarian Pulev – who pulled out of fighting AJ in 2017 with injury – is happy to get his crack at the belts in front of an empty venue – as long as fans at home are buying the pay-per-view.
He said: “I’m ready for June 20, July 25, whenever they say. You see what the situation is, the whole world must adjust to it.
“There’s no problem to be without spectators. Everyone would be at home, they can pay-per-view, so I don’t see any problem financially.
“The show could be lost a bit without fans but it can still happen. After all, it’s a world championship, which must take place.”
Despite Pulev’s offer, Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn already warned the fight will be called off should fans be denied the chance to watch Joshua – who spent 2019 fighting in New York and Saudi Arabia – make his homecoming.
The promoter said: “For me, boxing is unique in many ways, particularly in terms of the role that the fans play in making a fighter peak in a very important moment in their career.
“I cannot see how we can stage a fight behind closed doors with no crowd.
“Can you imagine Anthony Joshua walking to fight Kubrat Pulev in front of you and me and [Sky Sports head of boxing] Adam Smith? It’s just not going to happen.
“Could you imagine Derek Chisora fighting Oleksandr Usyk behind closed doors and laying him out with a punch from the gods and standing on the turnbuckle to see no-one?
“The crowd are so integral to the dramatic aspect of the sport of boxing, and in terms of being a TV product. For me, it’s very difficult to do it behind closed doors.”
Eddie Hearn says that no boxing match should happen without an audience as two of the promoters fights are cancelled
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
