Promoter Eddie Hearn is taking every possible precaution to make sure that unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s bout with IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev goes ahead as planned.
The heavyweight pair are due to meet on December 12 at London’s O2 Arena, with their contest originally set for June prior to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hearn says that Bulgaria’s Pulev will be flown into the United Kingdom well in advance and placed into quarantine to take every measure possible in ensuring the bout goes ahead.
“Kubrat Pulev will be making his way to London shortly, sooner than we think, and he will be entering the bubble weeks in advance,” Hearn said to Sky Sports “A lot of these top heavyweights and these guys who are earning considerable purses are being constantly tested on a daily basis.
“You look at Derek Chisora, I think he was getting tested every other day. We will bring Pulev here. Every international fighter has to be tested before they travel, and we will make sure he’s in the bubble, in an enclosed environment, because you just can’t risk it. Normally on fight week, you get a five or 10 percent chance that a fight could fall through. Here it’s 50-50, for every fight.
“When you talk about a fight of that size, you have to take extra precautions and that will be making sure both guys are in a bubble, nice and early, and are locked away under strict surveillance to make sure that they’re good to go for fight night.”
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