Anthony Joshua is set to face Wladimir
Klitschko in a rematch of their Wembley blockbuster, his promoter Eddie
Hearn has revealed.
Klitschko, 41, has
yet to confirm whether he will retire or trigger his rematch clause and
take on the newly-crowned IBF and WBA world champion. But Hearn claims
they are working on making the fight and that the money involved means
he 'can't see (the Ukrainian) not taking it'.
A rematch between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko is 'happening' claims Eddie Hearn
Joshua rose from the canvas in the sixth round to stop the 41-year-old at Wembley on April 29
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Klitschko has yet to confirm whether he will trigger his rematch clause or retire from the sport
'We're looking at all the potential sites
for the rematch. It's not really a case of them having to let us know by
a certain date. For us, it's happening,'
Hearn told Boxing News.
'Until
(Klitschko) turns round and says "no, I'm retiring," we're full steam
ahead. At the moment all I can tell you is that it's happening because
we haven't heard otherwise.
'Bernd
(Boente, Klitschko's manager) has got a meeting with him this week. The
number of offers we've had come in from other sites means the money's so
big, I can't see him not taking it. Even away from the money I think he
wants it, I think he looks back and thinks he had Josh in the fifth or
sixth. A lot of people gave him a lot of props for it, so why not?'
Joshua, 27, is due to defend his IBF belt against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev next
But promoter Hearn has applied for an exemption so a rematch with Klitschko can take place
The first fight in April took place in front of 90,000 supporters at Wembley Stadium -- a post-war British record.
But
Cardiff's Principality Stadium, which hosted the Champions League final
on Saturday, had been touted as the likeliest venue for the
money-spinning rematch, with Hearn claiming last month that they were looking at dates for in October.
Now,
however, the Matchroom promoter has claimed that there are sights in
Europe, Africa, America and Asia all making lucrative offers to host one
of the biggest fights in world boxing.
The Matchroom promoter said they have received lucrative offers from venues worldwide
Cardiff's Principality Stadium is one of the venues that could host the money-spinning rematch
'We're looking at America, Nigeria, Dubai or Cardiff,' Hearn said.
'Cardiff
isn't the frontrunner financially. The money we're getting offered from
other sites is huge, but that comes with problems. It's a new market
for us, go and do an event in Lagos sounds great but operationally it's
very difficult. You have to look at money, is it there? Is it secure?'
Joshua
is required by the IBF to face his mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in
his next fight but Hearn has applied for an exemption to allow a
rematch with Klitschko to take place, the decision on which Hearn
expects this week.
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