Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Cardiff is one of the front-runners to hold Anthony Joshua’s next fight later this year.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium appears to have missed out on hosting the IBF and WBA World Champion’s next bout, with the rematch against Wladimir Klitschko heading to Las Vegas.
Earlier this morning Klitschko announced he was retiring from boxing.
There was agreement in place with the IBF that if the Brit didn’t fight Klitschko, he would move on to face Kubrat Puluv, who is mandatory challenger, and now Cardiff is now firmly back in the picture.
“We need to sort out the final details but the venues don’t change. It will still be Vegas or Cardiff, with Cardiff probably the front-runner,” Hearn told the Daily Mail.
“”We have an agreement in place with the IBF that if it wasn’t Klitschko it would be Pulev. It will almost certainly be Pulev next.”
The preferred dates for Joshua’s next fight are late October and early November, but the latter would be out of the question for the Principality Stadium.
The Wales rugby team kick off their autumn series against Australia on November 11 and then play every weekend until December 2.
Eddie Hearn also confirms the date will stay the same. “The date will be the same – probably October 28 or November 11, because ideally we would like AJ to fight again in February or March so he can have three fights in 2018.”
The versatile Cardiff venue would be the perfect setting for such an occasion and has a proven record for hosting boxing matches and concerts.
(Featured image: Andrew King)