London, United Kingdom, Mar 2 – Anthony Joshua said he felt “honoured” to be topping the bill in the first professional boxing event at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after it was announced he would defend his world heavyweight titles at the north London football ground against Kubrat Pulev on June 20.

Joshua, 30, regained the WBA, IBF and WBO titles with a unanimous points win over Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in December.

That victory saw the Londoner avenge the first defeat of his professional career, in New York last June.

“On June 20, I am defending my heavyweight world titles,” said Joshua in a statement posted on Tottenham’s website on Monday.

“I’m back in my home city after some time away. A spectacular stadium has been built in North London and I’m honoured to bring the boxing community from all over the world to witness us make history with the stadium’s first heavyweight world title fight.”

“The belts go back up in the air and nothing will stop me from being victorious,” added Joshua ahead of his first bout in the UK since he defeated Alexander Povetkin at Wembley in September, 2018.

The prospects for a much-anticipated all-British “superfight” between Joshua and Tyson Fury suffered a setback when American Deontay Wilder said he would trigger a clause in his contract for a third meeting with Fury, the new WBC heavyweight champion.

– ‘Must-win fight’ –

But Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, talked up the Pulev clash by saying: “I’m so excited to see Anthony Joshua return to the capital, 70,000 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is going to be very special.

“As we go into what I believe will be the biggest year of ‘AJ’s’ career so far, all our attention turns to Kubrat Pulev in an absolute must-win fight.”

Bulgarian boxer Pulev has won 28 of 29 bouts, with his only loss coming in a world title defeat by Wladimir Klitschko back in 2014.

“Pulev is undefeated in six years and his team and especially Bob Arum really fancy this,” said Hearn. “I think you are going to see something special from ‘AJ’ on June 20 — a destructive performance on the road to undisputed.”

Pulev, who is the mandatory challenger for Joshua’s IBF title, pulled out of a scheduled meeting with the Briton in 2017 due to injury.

But in a Facebook post on Monday, the 38-year-old Pulev said: “I am happy that I will be able to show the world how strong I really am.”

Fury stopped Wilder in the seventh round of their heavyweight title rematch in Las Vegas last week — the American’s first defeat of his career — after a draw between the two boxers in 2018.

Hearn responded by saying Joshua’s camp would do “everything we can” to bring about a fight with Fury.

The 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium could stage a Joshua-Fury bout but it might yet take place overseas for financial reasons, with Saudi Arabia reported to be a potential venue.

(Visited 10 times, 10 visits today)

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Ouma eyes experience for Starlets in Turkey

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Sturridge handed four-month ban for betting breachesrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Lampard to look at goalkeeper options end of seasonrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Klopp to beef up FA Cup side as Liverpool look to bounce backrn

rn rn rn rn rn 13 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Five talking points in European football this weekendrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 25 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Global sport heavily disrupted by coronavirusrn

rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn 11 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn African players in Europe: Sarr sparkles as Watford stun Redsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 6 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn

• SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
• Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
• Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
• Rudisha to make Olympics decision by May by Timothy Olobulu Kenya's 800 metres world record holder and olympic champion David…
• Ku2019ogalo survive Stima scare, extend KPL lead by Timothy Olobulu Gor Mahia skipper Kenneth Muguna celebrates his goal against Western…

rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sturridge handed four-month ban for betting breaches

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Lampard to look at goalkeeper options end of season

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Klopp to beef up FA Cup side as Liverpool look to bounce back

rn rn rn rn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Five talking points in European football this weekend

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Global sport heavily disrupted by coronavirus

rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?

ntt
• NO
ntt
• YES
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

African players in Europe: Sarr sparkles as Watford stun Reds

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Joshua happy to come home with Pulev fight in London

rn rn rn Boxingrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Football grinds to a halt in Bundesliga banner insults

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Coronavirus leaves Six Nations’ fate in balance at Paris meet

rn rn rn rn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Boks stun Fiji at LA Sevens in extra-time thriller

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Sturridge handed four-month ban for betting breachesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Top players to grace 2020 Magical Kenya Openrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Lampard to look at goalkeeper options end of seasonrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Klopp to beef up FA Cup side as Liverpool look to bounce backrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Five talking points in European football this weekendrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn

• SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
• Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
• Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
• Rudisha to make Olympics decision by May by Timothy Olobulu Kenya's 800 metres world record holder and olympic champion David…
• Ku2019ogalo survive Stima scare, extend KPL lead by Timothy Olobulu Gor Mahia skipper Kenneth Muguna celebrates his goal against Western…

rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Sturridge handed four-month ban for betting breachesrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Top players to grace 2020 Magical Kenya Openrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Lampard to look at goalkeeper options end of seasonrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Klopp to beef up FA Cup side as Liverpool look to bounce backrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Five talking points in European football this weekendrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 2nd Mar 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */