Anthony Joshua fought his last two bouts in Saudi Arabia and New York City.
But the unified world heavyweight champion is apparently hell-bent on returning home to have his next fight in London. According to Matchroom Boxing USA president, Eddie Hearn, an Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev fight announcement is "very close" to being made, with the final terms being decided.
"I was with AJ last night ... strict instructions from him — 'London,'" Hearn told iFL TV on Thursday about what Joshua demanded as far as the location for his fight against Pulev, the IBF manadatory challenger. "'Eddie, we've gone to America, we've gone to Saudi, I want to come home.' He's aware he's going to make a lot less money to do it in London. He says 'I don't care. I want to fight in London. I want to give the UK fans a fight.'"
Hearn added that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the "frontrunner" to host the bout in June. Joshua hasn't fought in London since his seventh-round TKO of Alexander Povetkin in September 2018 in Wembley Stadium.
Pulev is one of two mandatory challengers lined up to vie for Joshua's unified world heavyweight crown, with Oleksandr Usyk being AJ's WBO mandatory. Joshua and Usyk are both promoted by Hearn and fight on DAZN — the ingredients that should make the bout relatively seamless to set up. The fact that they're both 2012 Olympic gold medalists would only add intrigue to an impending clash.
Joshua trying to tackle Pulev first should give Usyk the opportunity to further develop as a heavyweight after making the climb up to the division after becoming the undisputed cruiserweight king. In his heavyweight debut, Usyk made Chazz Witherspoon retire on his stool after the seventh round in October.
Joshua redeemed himself behind the jab for a lopsided unanimous decision over Andy Ruiz Jr. to become a two-time unified world heavyweight champ in December.