Coronavirus: Joshua rejects closed doors bout with Pulev

Anthony Joshua’s world title fight against Kubrat Pulev will not take place behind closed doors, Eddie Hearn has insisted despite the coronavirus outbreak causing major disruption to sporting events.
Joshua will defend his WBA, WBO and IBF world titles against Bulgarian Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.
There have been growing concerns that the coronavirus crisis could impact Joshua’s first fight on home soil since 2018 as extreme measures are being taken in the world of sport in a bid to contain and prevent the spread of the disease.
European football matches were this week played behind closed doors while Six Nations rugby matches were postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, but AJ’s promoter Hearn has insisted he cannot consider staging the fight without fans present – though he did accept that the government will ultimately make the decision on crowd safety.
“We’ve got quite a busy schedule coming up, so we hope that it can be contained and business as usual,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“For me, boxing is unique in many ways, particularly in terms of the role that the fans play in making a fighter peak in a very important moment in their career.
“I cannot see how we can stage a fight behind closed doors with no crowd. Can you imagine Anthony Joshua walking to fight Kubrat Pulev in front of you and me and Adam Smith? It’s just not going to happen.
“Could you imagine Derek Chisora fighting Oleksandr Usyk behind closed doors and laying him out with a punch from the gods and standing on the turn buckle to see no-one? The crowd are so integral to the dramatic aspect of the sport of boxing, and in terms of being a TV product.
“For me, it’s very difficult to do behind closed doors. This is a sport where it could really impact the livelihood of the athletes and talent. Everybody’s hands are tied by government decisions that of course are there to act in the best interests of the country and the British public.
“What will be, will be. Right now, business as normal and we go ahead with an incredible schedule that we hope will go ahead in full.”