Eddie Hearn Predicts When We Will See Fans At Boxing Events Again

By Fight Sports Jun 23, 2020 Last updated Jun 23, 2020

As the promoter of the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO Heavyweight Champion, Eddie Hearn is in charge of ensuring his fighter can get the best deal possible. That includes fights, venue, and pay. The latter two almost coexist with one another when it comes to revenue for a fight.

Anthony Joshua is expected to defend his titles against mandatory IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev. Originally scheduled for June, the fight between the two was postponed due to the coronavirus. Hearn has been hoping to have Joshua fight with a crowd and has even chosen a small venue in the UK that could hold fans as a possible destination for the bout. If all goes according to plan, a bout at the end of the year will happen.

“I really believe that we will start seeing crowds coming back by late-August, certainly September-October and it will be fantastic to do AJ vs Pulev with a crowd,” Hearn ended up telling The Sun. “I feel like the Pulev fight will happen in November.”

The month of November has been talked about before, but only as a rumor. One of the major concerns regarding a fight is the condition of Joshua. He is currently healing from a knee injury suffered during training and is expected to be out of action for at least four weeks.

“AJ has a very minor knee niggle that was wrapped up but is coming off shortly so it won’t cause problems with the date and I expect that fight to happen around November,” Hearn went on to say. “When you’re on crutches, with your leg in a brace, it is never great but it’s not something that will affect his 2020 career or his career at all.”

Hearn would end up stating that Joshua will not require surgery and the brace will be worn just as a precaution.

Pulev’s team has been waiting for Hearn and Matchroom to have the fight official and ready to go. He has also given Joshua the ultimatum to defend or vacate the title. The two were supposed to fight in 2017, but Pulev had to back out due to injury.

Hearn and Joshua’s team is also focusing on a potential Tyson Fury bout. The two agreed in principle to fight one another in 2021. Besides Pulev, Joshua must also deal with Oleksandr Usyk while Fury must focus on Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte.