Nigerian-born world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua has received confirmation that a crowd of 1,000 will be allowed to watch live his upcoming title defence against Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev at London’s Wembley Arena on December 12, megasportsarena.com reports.
Joshua will put his International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) belts on the line in the bout that was earlier rescheduled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and relocated from London’s 02 Arena due to logistics reasons.
It will be Joshua’s first fight in a home ring in more than two years, and the Nigerian-born pugilist’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, who runs Matchroom Boxing management, acknowledged that at least 1,000 fans would be allowed into the arena, even as he affirmed that strict coronavirus precautions and safety measures will be enforced for a fight.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to see fans returning to our live boxing events. 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 UK and beyond. This is such a positive move for boxing and all sport,” Hearn disclosed in a press statement.
