Anthony Joshua is prepared to fight “anywhere, any time” and would have no issue defending his world titles in an empty back garden, according to Eddie Hearn.
Joshua’s career has effectively been put on hold by the coronavirus pandemic since he regained his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles from Andy Ruiz Jr last December in Saudi Arabia.
Promoter Hearn has been desperate to bring back the sport and erected a ring outside his Essex home to stage a series of behind-closed-doors events dubbed ‘Fight Camp’, which starts on Saturday.
He expects Joshua – who has reached an agreement for two upcoming fights with fellow Briton Tyson Fury – to take on mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev before the end of 2020 and admits the bout could take place in similar circumstances to his current venture.
“We want him to be in front of crowds. But for his career, for his development, he needs to fight this year,” Hearn told the PA news agency.
“His last fight was against Andy Ruiz in December, he probably won’t fight until December this year, so it will
be a year. And next year we know he has two big fights against Tyson Fury.
“Of course fighters want to earn as much money as possible but they also need to develop as fighters and I think the Kubrat Pulev fight is a good solid, tough fight for him and I am almost certain you will see that fight this year.
“He would fight here (at Hearn’s home), no problem. But we want to be in a position really where we can drive some people back into the arena.
“He wants to improve as a fighter and he will do it anywhere, any time.”