- The Government announced fans will not return to sporting events in October
- This means Anthony Joshua’s fight with Kubrat Pulev will be behind closed doors
- Joshua is set to defend his heavyweight titles against the Bulgarian in December
- Eddie Hearn confirmed the fight will go ahead as planned at The O2 Arena
Anthony Joshua’s fight with Kubrat Pulev will go ahead this year irrespective of the announcement that fans cannot return to sporting events from October.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn had been working in the hope that the heavyweight world title fight would take place on December 12 at The O2 in front of upwards of 5,000 spectators as part of the phased reintegration of crowds at live sport.
However, it is increasingly likely that any fight would need to be staged in front of zero fans following the confirmation on Tuesday from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that large events will remain closed due to the rise in coronavirus cases.