Eddie Hearn hopes that Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk can be agreed upon to keep to the proposed July 23 date.
Hearn has said on several occasions that the late July date is currently in mind for the rematch after Joshua lost the IBF, WBA, and WBO belts to the Ukrainian back in September.
There have already been months of delays after Usyk returned to his homeland to defend his country from the Russian invasion. But he has since left Ukraine and is training to defend his three heavyweight championships.
Hearn has said before that Saudi Arabia is the leading candidate to stage the second bout but warned the DAZN Boxing Show that details would need to be finalized promptly to ensure the date was not put back again. A summer fight would allow the winner to face off against WBC champion Tyson Fury before the end of the year, assuming he does not make good on his promise to retire.
Hearn reiterated: “July 23, in the Middle East is the frontrunner. We’re almost out of time for that date if we don’t get the deal done this week.
“I’m hoping we can give you two big pieces of news this week. That will be Canelo Alvarez’s next fight and Anthony Joshua’s next fight - two of the biggest stars of the sport.”