Las Vegas is still in the mix to stage Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua if the two meet as planned to unify the world heavyweight titles this summer.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says the Nevada gambling hub, which has been the world’s main fight capital for decades, is among a number of venues which are seen as potential sites.
Up until now it had been thought the Middle East would be the inevitable landing spot for the biggest fight in British boxing history. But Hearn says with things starting to open up in the U.S. as COVID-19 hopefully subsides, Vegas is absolutely not out of the running.
Vegas still in running
He told talkSPORT: “Saudi 100 per cent want to hold the fight but they are only one of six or seven who we have whittled it down to, who want to hold the fight and will continue talks with.
“America has opened up as an option, we are in talks with the Dallas Cowboys about having 70,000 for Canelo vs Billy Joe Saunders on May 1.
“And I believe Las Vegas is close to opening up to 50 per cent capacity, if they have 100 per cent by July they could be a player and they will need something monstrous to bring people back.”
Fury has given off increasingly frustrated vibes during media interviews during the past week. He said the bout is “nowhere near at the moment” and even claimed he has stopped training to take a break after becoming “burnt out”.
Hearn though responded to that by saying: “Although they are going to put pen to paper, the interview was a bit disappointing because I want to hear him say ‘The only fight I’m interested in is Anthony Joshua’.
“I don’t know whether he was in a bad mood or pulling everyone’s plonker. What I do know is everyone has put a lot of work into this deal and he is on board.
“Last week he said he would never ever fight Deontay Wilder again and now he says he might fight him next, so we are just focused on what we are doing and we are on the verge of giving everyone some great news.
Fury needs to get mojo back – Hearn
“I think we are days away – I know I have said that two and five weeks ago – but we are days away from giving everyone some good news.
“AJ just wants to be undisputed. He’s so driven and what I saw last night – in the minute I watched – I didn’t feel the energy from Tyson Fury.
“I want him to get his mojo back and start concentrating on what is a life-changing moment for our sport – the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world between two Brits.”
Fury and Joshua are expected to earn around $100million each for their first meeting alone. They agreed in principle the financial structure for a two-fight deal last summer . The first fight will be a 50-50 revenue split with the winner taking a 60-40 upside for the rematch.
Fury and Joshua currently hold all the major heavyweight titles. Fury is the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal king. AJ meanwhile is the WBA, IBF and WBO champion.
