Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Anthony Joshua’s clash with Kubrat Pulev next month could be moved abroad due to coronavirus restrictions.
Hearn had planned to bring in at least some fans to The O2 in London on December 12, but a second coronavirus lockdown in England means that there is almost no chance that spectators will be allowed to attend.
While the most extreme restrictions are planned to last for just a month, some Cabinet members have refused to rule out an extension to the rules.
Speaking after Oleksandr Usyk’s match-up against Dereck Chisora, Hearn said: “We will try to have fans at the AJ fight but we could also take it somewhere internationally.
“The lockdown news is heartbreaking for the country ... I think all our cards are safe, we speak to the DCMS a couple of times a week to push crowds and see what we can do.”
Hearn reported that fights are extremely difficult to plan during the pandemic because of the short and long-term uncertainty.
“The problem is nobody has any confidence to agree to anything in December, let alone January or February,” Hearn explained.
“People won't sign things for April or May because they don't know if they will be open.”
He then spelled out the implications of the pandemic lasting well into next year.
“If live crowds are not back by next May or June, all sports have major problems to make major fights,” he said.