British boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, has reiterated his opposition to moving the long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to the United States, insisting the contest belongs in the United Kingdom.
The Matchroom Sport chairman said he and Joshua remain determined to honour a contractual agreement that stipulates the fight should take place on British soil, despite growing reports that organisers are favouring New York’s Madison Square Garden for the proposed November clash.
Speculation has intensified in recent days that Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, streaming platform Netflix and Fury’s camp are backing a US venue, with discussions also centring on holding the bout on a Friday night to maximise American prime-time viewership.
Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Hearn maintained that Joshua never intended to fight Fury outside the UK.
“I’ve seen all the reports, November 20, Madison Square Garden,” Hearn said.
“I kind of feel like right now, me and ‘AJ’ are the last two standing on the hill waving the Union Jack.
“I mean, Anthony Joshua made me insert a clause into the contract that said the fight must happen in the UK.
“So at the moment, it can’t happen anywhere else.”
Hearn acknowledged that pressure is mounting from influential figures involved in organising the fight but stressed that he and Joshua have no intention of abandoning the original agreement.
“Now, we’re under a lot of pressure.
“Turki Alalshikh, Netflix. Sounds like Tyson Fury. It sounds like everybody’s agreed they want to do this fight at Madison Square Garden.
“We don’t. I mean, we want to make it so financially unviable for them to change the contract that they’ve got no choice but to do it in the UK.
“I honestly don’t know how it’s going to play out. All I can tell you is I can assure you that myself and Anthony are saying it just doesn’t make sense.
“Like, we wouldn’t have signed this contract under its terms if this said the fight was in America.
“So, why should we change it now?”
The venue remains one of the biggest unresolved issues surrounding the blockbuster contest, with fans still waiting for an official announcement.
The uncertainty follows both heavyweight rivals returning to action last month.
Fury stopped 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand after seven rounds in a bout filmed for his Netflix reality series, while Joshua knocked out Albania’s Kristian Prenga in the second round in Saudi Arabia a day later.
Although some observers believe both former world champions are past their peak, the proposed Joshua-Fury showdown remains one of the most anticipated fights in British boxing.
