By Gabriel Princewill-
Eddie Hearn has said that Saudi Arabia plans to welcome overseas fans for the all-British world heavyweight title showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
A date of August 14 has been pencilled in for the lucrative super-fight, although the contest has yet to be officially confirmed by both sides.
The pair are set to contest all four world heavyweight titles and Hearn’s comments open up the prospect of British fans travelling to the Gulf state in three months’ time.
‘They [Saudi Arabia] want to build a new stadium,’ Hearn told Sky Sports. ‘They have indoors options. In August at 11pm it will be about 23 degrees.
‘They want to create something very, very special. Last time they built a stadium for the Andy Ruiz Jr fight in just seven weeks and it held 18,000. This will be a similar set-up.’
Hearn added that the Saudis are looking to ‘shock the world’ with the specially-built venue.
“The Saudi plan is to allow international travellers,” Joshua’s promoter Hearn told BBC Sport.
“Pandemic permitting, I’d like to think by August you’d have the ability to travel to Saudi for this fight.
“They may have precautions in place, whether that’s vaccine related or testing.
“I’m sure all countries will adopt different policies worldwide. But their aim is to attract overseas travellers.”
Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh or Jeddah is expected to host the massive event, designed to prove one main heavyweight world champion and superstar, as Joshua defends his WBO, WBA and IBF titles and Fury puts his WBC belt on the line.
Eddie Hearn says Saudia Arabia Preparing something special for fans
Image:sky.com
The fight is expected to capture the imagination of the whole world, as it pits to physically big specimens who being different things to the table.
Joshua, an athletic power house will face his biggest test against the 6ft 9 inches gigantic and versatile unorthodox gypsy king, who has so far backed all his big talk since the beginning of his career of won wold heavyweight titles on two different occasions-when he beat Wladimir Klitschko on points in 2015, and his masterful conquest of former WBC title holder, Deontey Wilder in February 2020 .
Joshua , the golden goose of Great Britain, enjoyed an air of invincibility with British fans, until he was stopped by Andy Ruiz in June 2019, before a crowd in Newyork,. He has since bounced back after avenging that defeat and overcoming Russia’s Kubrat Pulev, who had only previously lost to former reigning champiom,Wladimir Klitschko.
Joshua Avenges loss to Andy Ruiz Jnr Image:sky.com
The Londoner has the fire power to pull off a remarkable win, but will be aware that Tyson Fury will be the betting favourite to take all the belts and unify the division.
That in itself will be a serious motivating factor for Joshua, who could be under more pressure come fight night. Tyson Fury who would have been out of the ring for 18 months has described himself as the spartan, and Anthony Joshua, the businessman.
Both men will be determined to win the fight, but only one will emerge victorious, bar a draw.
Hearn says the Saudis intend to build an outdoor arena as they did for Joshua’s rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019.
“They want to build a stadium,” Hearn said. “It’s 24 degrees at 11pm at night in August, which is not horrendous.
“They have the opportunity to hold it indoors but they want to create something that will shock the world. They want to build a stadium just for this fight.”
Deals
“These deals take a lot of time to go through. There is a lot of paperwork, financial information and Escrow accounts you have to go through, Eddie Hearn said about the upcoming fight.
“When that process has been done before it makes it a lot easier. Team Fury need to be comfortable, which they pretty much are.”
The August 14 date will avoid a clash with the Tokyo Olympics, which are scheduled to finish six days earlier, and that should allow an even greater global audience.
Image:sky.com
Hearn said: “The words and the feeling out of both camps should give you the security that this fight is happening and 14 August is the date.
“It has been difficult and has taken a month more than I anticipated but we need it.
“It is one of the biggest fights of all time. The whole world will stop for boxing. It shows you that when you get it right, this sport is huge.”
The conclusion of the Olympics should also mean that Joshua will have trainer Rob McCracken, who heads up GB Boxing, in his corner.
Hearn said Saudi organisers are eyeing capital city Riyadh or Jeddah to play host and that they intend to build an outdoor arena – as they did for Joshua’s rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019.
The team behind the event in Saudi have reportedly put forward $150m (£107m) for the right to play host. The fighters will then split more when pay-per-view revenues are added in.
“They want to build a stadium,” said Hearn. “It’s 24 degrees at 11pm at night in August, which is not horrendous. They want to make it a spectacle.
“We’ve worked with these people before. It was extremely successful. They delivered on all their promises. These deals take a lot of time to go through. There is a lot of paperwork, financial information and Escrow accounts you have to go through. When that process has been done before it makes it a lot easier.”
Fury’s team recently said the unbeaten WBC world champion would not sign a contract for the fight unless he receives guarantee funds in a bank.
“Team Fury need to be comfortable, which they pretty much are,” Hearn added. “The words and the feeling out of both camps should give you the security that this fight is happening and 14 August is the date.”
Hearn says he has no ‘Plan B’ for Joshua other than the proposed contest, and that Fury has no desire to face anyone else.
It will be the biggest fight in the career of both fight fighters.