Eddie Hearn casts doubt over Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury happening in UK but insists fight deal is ‘virtually there’

EDDIE HEARN admits Anthony Joshua's blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury could be held at a "wacky" location outside of the UK.

The eagerly-anticipated heavyweight title unification fight is currently in the works, and both parties are confident a deal will soon be finalised.

Wembley Stadium is the preferred location for the fight, although Hearn admits the ongoing coronavirus pandemic - which has plunged the nation into a third lockdown - could lead to the bout being held in a "wacky" location.

He told : "There have been meetings taking place on where this fight is going to be held.

‘There’s various countries. I’ve visited a few of them in the last few weeks and days and I think we’re in a good position. There’s some wacky stuff.

‘There’s some stuff you’d expect and again, I know everyone wants it in the UK but at the moment they aren’t even allowing boxing so we’ve got a long way to go."

Although an agreement has yet to be finalised, Hearn believes the biggest fight in the history of British boxing is almost a done deal.

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He added: "We’ve been drafting contracts, it’s not signed but the deal has been agreed for a long time, we’ve confirmed that in writing.

"I feel like the fight is virtually there, to be honest with you. We’re in the final stages of everything that’s got to be worked out."

WBC king Fury continued his mind games with AJ this week by vowing to stop him inside two rounds.

Hearn is loving the pre-fight build-up, saying: "I think it’s hotting up nicely. The mind games are starting.

"AJ is working tirelessly away in London and I think Tyson has gone to Miami to train and I think AJ will be going somewhere to train soon as well.

"I think everything is great. There’s been conversations every day for the last two weeks on that fight.

"A lot of the travelling I’ve been doing lately has been looking at where that fight can be staged as well.

"As we have done for a long time, we have an agreement on that fight. We have an agreement, which was agreed a long time ago. Nothing has changed.

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"We are not looking to go back on that agreement, I don’t think Tyson Fury is looking to go back on that agreement.

"We’re in the position now of drafting paperwork to try and move forwards with that fight so I think from a pandemic point of view it’s difficult because the world is changing every day. One minute something is opening, another something is closing."

Despite the prospect of Covid-19 delaying the long-awaited Battle of Britain, Hearn is confident the fight will take place this year.

The Matchroom chief said: ";That fight is planned for the end of May, early June and I don’t see anything getting in the way of it."