EXCLUSIVE: Hearn shares details as Tottenham, Arsenal battle for AJ fight

Tottenham and Arsenal are set to battle it out to host Anthony Joshua’s next fight against IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev.

At Josh Warrington’s official press conference at Headingley Stadium on Thursday, Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn informed Boxing 365 that Joshua’s homecoming will take place at either the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or the Emirates and revealed the date in mind.

“June is the date [and] it’ll be at Spurs or Arsenal. Obviously it’s Kubrat Pulev and we’re confirming all that now so probably next week we’ll get an official announcement,” Hearn exclusively told Boxing365.

‘AJ’ is once again the flavour of the month after regaining three of the four recognised world heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz Jr.

The Watford fan, who is set for a huge return to the UK this summer after fighting in America and Saudi Arabia in 2019, outpointed Ruiz to become a two-time world champion.

In doing so, he joins a small cluster of fighters, including Muhammad Ali, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, Floyd Patterson and Evander Holyfield, to have reclaimed the heavyweight title.

Read more: Boxing365’s exclusive with Josh Warrington, who talks all things Leeds United…

For sure Joshua, Hearn and the boxing world will be keeping close tabs of the highly-anticipated rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. The pair are set to commence battle on February 22 for the WBC strap – the only title to have eluded Joshua.

Fight fans are calling on the winner to fight Joshua next as long as he comes through his Bulgarian opponent in June.

However, the ‘Bronze Bomber’ has brushed off Joshua’s claim of unifying the division after branding him ‘irrelevant’ ahead of fight week at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

When asked about the remarks made by Wilder, Hearn said: “If you think a guy who has four belts and is the biggest draw in boxing and your division isn’t relevant then you either don’t want the fight or you’re just bitter.”

By Joe Hewlett – follow him on Twitter

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