Eddie Hearn has warned that Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury need to decide on a venue in the next few weeks in order to meet a deadline.
The heavyweight champions have now signed a deal for a two-fight contest, but there remains some disagreement over the best date for the event. There is now a concerted effort to decide upon a site that is complicated by the restrictions in various countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Seven countries have thrown their hat into the ring to hold the first fight. Saudi Arabia, other Middle Eastern countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, and China, are all believed to be potential hosts. However, the Matchroom head has said that there are just 30 days left to choose a venue in order to make sure a fight can be held this summer.
"Well, I guess it depends where we are," Hearn told Sky Sports. "If we're on the verge and it has to go a few days after that. That's a date set by everybody to push forward with the summer fight. We are in March. We want to get this wrapped up as soon as possible. I think it far better to put the pressure on and work to a deadline, and I think it's a fair deadline. Ultimately that's a very sensible timeframe to be able to get a deal done. A lot of conversations with the sites have actually been started a couple of weeks ago because of the slight delay, so we're in a good place.
"Both sides on the phone to relevant sites this week, and we'll catch up at the end of the week with an update, and I believe in the next week or so, we'll be ready to provide the fighters with an update of the offers and the various sites on the table."
Hearn and both fighters are believed to want at least one fight to take place in the UK, meaning a second fight is the most likely option due to the continuing Covid-19 restrictions.
"We're up against it, coming off the back of the pandemic," Hearn confirmed. "I'm sure most people would prefer the fight to take place later in the year. That's not what we want. We want these two fights to take place this year. We want it to be AJ's next fight, and it will be, so that's what we're in a process of going out and securing, and I think we're in a great position."
Hearn has previously told DAZN’s AK & Barak Show that a fight would go ahead this summer.