Anthony Joshua is eyeing a spring mega-fight at Spurs’ new stadium.
Britain’s heavyweight hero won his world titles back from Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night – six months after losing them in New York. The re-crowned WBA, IBF and WBO king admits he is homesick and wants to sell out the 60,000-seat Premier League ground in March.
Joshua, 30, would prefer old enemy Dillian Whyte but mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev is the most likely opponent. AJ said: “It would be mega. Looking at how many people came out here shows there’s still a big interest in the heavyweight division, especially now we are taking the belts back. To defend them back on home soil would be big news. It would be better against another Brit but, if not, I will follow my mandatory and crack on that way.
“London’s calling, I think. We’ve been away for the whole year but it’s nice to have a breather. It’s nice to have a bit of controversy, a bit of doubt. It just shows that British supporters do play a big part in my career. Any time I’m on home soil I can’t lose.
“The work begins again because around March I’ll be defending those titles again. I’m already focusing on my next fight.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed a dream return to Wembley, the setting for AJ’s iconic 2017 win over Wladimir Klitschko, clashed with too many diary dates. Instead, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho – who has attended some of the Watford star’s fights and was invited to Saudi – could be welcoming him.
Hearn said: “Tottenham Hotspur is a nice new stadium for a fight and we have to look at it. The phone has gone crazy with people saying, ‘Bring him here, bring him here’. People have seen what we have just done in Saudi Arabia and there are a lot of options internationally but AJ wants to box back in the UK. We have spoken to Spurs about doing it and they were very keen to host the Ruiz fight but the dates did not work out. They are very keen again.”
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