Anthony Joshua's fight against challenger Kubrat Pulev at risk over UK Covid-19 restrictions

ANTHONY Joshua's planned world heavyweight fight against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev due do take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is under threat as a result of the coronavirus restrictions and travel bans.

Originally, the fight had been due to take place on June 20. but could not take place due to the coronavirus lockdown and now, there are doubts if it will hold this year at all. As it eases the Covid-19 lockdown, the UK government has listed several countries that will be exempt from quarantine rules upon arrival in the country and Bulgaria is not on this list.

As a result, Pulev and his team would face a two-week lockdown once they land in London and unless Bulgaria is added soon, any announcement on the fight remains on hold. Pulev’s co-promoter Ivan Gotzev, is looking at organising the fight outside the UK as an alternative arrangement but said his plans are not being taken seriously.

He added: “I’m not denying there are people struggling with the virus but we are waiting for the UK government. They have to open borders, so we are waiting for Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter to have some audience in the stadium.

“The excellent offer to host the fight in Croatia was there but unfortunately, there was never really any intent from their side taking the fight outside the UK from day one. Unfortunately, it was all smoke and mirrors and once we realized that, we quit trying as there was no sense in continuing to do so.”

Pulev has only been defeated once in his professional career, losing to Vladimir Klitschko in 2014. However, Joshua, who has his eyes on an ultimate unification fight with World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Tyson Fury, is confident that he can knock out Pulev as he establishes himself as the top man in the division.