Eddie Hearn resists move to host Joshua vs Fury in America

Eddie Hearn has expressed disappointment regarding negotiations for the upcoming heavyweight bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The promoter stated that he and Joshua are attempting to uphold their original contractual position to host the fight in the United Kingdom.

While the matchup is expected to occur in November, the location remains uncertain. Dr Rakan AlHarthy of Sela has indicated that Netflix prefers the event to take place in the United States, with Madison Square Garden being a likely venue. Hearn noted that while Sela is working to accommodate this request, he and Joshua would not have agreed to the fight if it were destined for America.

Hearn explained that the primary purpose of the contest was to provide the event to British fans. He suggested that moving the fight to the United States would result in negative reactions from the public. He confirmed that he has met with Dr Rakan AlHarthy and maintains a good relationship with the Sela representatives.

Both fighters recently completed warm-up matches. Tyson Fury secured a seven-round stoppage against 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand, though the performance was described as uninspiring. Anthony Joshua also achieved a second-round stoppage against Kristian Prenga, despite being knocked down twice during the opening round of that contest.

Ultimately, the final decision regarding the fight's location rests with Turki Alalshikh and Dr Rakan AlHarthy, who are key figures within the Saudi Arabian sports and entertainment entity, Sela.