BEVERLY HILLS, December 02, (THEWILL) –Â British heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, will have a small number of fans in attendance when he enters the ring to defend his world heavyweight title against Kubrat Pulev. THEWILL has learnt that there will be about 1,000 fans at The SSE Arena, Wembley venue of the bout.
The 31-year-old squares off against the Bulgarian Pulev on Saturday, December 12, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Ahead of much anticipated homecoming fight for Joshua, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, has received the go-ahead to include a small attendance. Each of the 1,000 fans is expected to adhere with strict safety measures and guidelines as mandated.
Wembley, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, was the initial location for Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO title defence against IBF mandatory challenger Pulev in June, but, as THEWILL reported last month, The SSE Arena now replaces The O2 as the confirmed venue.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to see fans returning to our live boxing events,” said Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport and Joshua’s promoter.
“Whilst the team have done an incredible job over the last 10 months, we live and breathe through the energy and atmosphere that a live crowd generates.
“It’s so fitting that they can return for an AJ fight, when through the last few years, he has broken all kinds of attendance records in the U.K. and beyond. This is such a positive move for boxing and all sport. Welcome back!”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
