Anthony Joshua set to fight Pulev at Tottenham Stadium with Spurs’ ground ‘front runner’ ahead of Arsenal’s Emirates
ANTHONY JOSHUA is set for a return to the United Kingdom with his next fight tipped to be at the Tottenham Stadium.
Eddie Hearn has revealed the boxer's desire to stage his next contest in London this summer, with Kubrat Pulev likely to be the opponent.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Matchroom promoter Hearn said: "We're very close. I had a meeting with AJ last night.
"We've had offers in from the Far East, Middle East, Africa, America, Turkey.
"He's made it very clear to me: 'I want to come home. I want to box in London next. I've been to Madison Square Garden, I've been to Saudi Arabia, bring me home. Forget the other offers, bring me home'.
"He wants to fight in London in June. We're on the verge of making that happen now.
"Spurs is the front runner and that's what he's asked me to do. We'll be delivering that for him."
Hosting the fight at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium has also been rumoured, with Twickenham another option.
A return would end the two-fight excursion to North America and the Middle East for Joshua's clashes with Andy Ruiz Jr.
All of the 30-year-old's 22 other contests have been in the UK.
Fights with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury may be on many fans' lips but AJ must contend with some mandatory challengers to the three world belts he won back against Ruiz Jr first.
IBF have Bulgarian veteran Pulev down as their contender with a two-week extension recently given to the fighters for them to agree a deal on a fight.
latest boxing news
Meanwhile, the WBO want Joshua to face Ukrainian contender Oleksandr Usyk.
On the identity of the opponent, Hearn remarked last month: "Pulev is the front runner, but of course in this situation Pulev is mandatory and is thinking ‘I want as much money as possible for this fight’."
Pulev's promoter John Writ of Epic Sports has also commented on the deal, recently describing it as "very close".