BBC-Eddie Hearn has dismissed rumours of Anthony Joshua turning down a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr and says alternatives are “not even up for negotiation.”
Joshua, 29, lost three of the four major world heavyweight titles to Ruiz in a huge shock in New York in June.
At London’s O2 Arena on Saturday – where Dillian Whyte beat Oscar Rivas – there was ringside talk of Joshua fighting again before facing Ruiz.
Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, said: “Do you think Joshua wants a warm-up? No.”
Hearn told 5 Live Boxing that Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was now the “front-runner” to host the rematch on 14 December, with a return to New York’s Madison Square Garden second in line for 29 November, a day after Thanksgiving in the US.
Delays in confirming the bout have led to speculation Joshua may pass up the chance to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles at the first attempt.
“It’s not even up for negotiation if he’s taking that fight or not,” added Hearn. “That fight is happening. Someone just asked me ‘do you think he should be taking this fight?’ I said ‘probably not’. In an ideal world probably you’d like a 10 rounder.
“If you’re a favourite for a fight for the heavyweight titles, you’re taking that fight. It is risky, dangerous, dramatic but it’s the biggest fight in world boxing.”
Hearn said the thought of 80,000 fans watching the bout at Wales’ national stadium was “tempting” and the stadium’s capacity, coupled with the fact it has a roof to deal with the British winter, make it the only viable UK option for a fight of such magnitude.
Joshua, though, has previously expressed a desire to take on Ruiz, 29, at Madison Square Garden in order to land the win where his US debut was wrecked on 1 June.
