Eddie Hearn ‘comfortable’ with Anthony Joshua fighting in Saudi Arabia

Promoter Eddie Hearn is ready for the backlash but comfortable with his decision as Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk is set to take place in Saudi Arabia.

An official announcement of the rematch is expected next week with August 20 the most likely date for the bout, the PA news agency understands.

Joshua lost on points to Usyk back in September at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and his bid to win back the WBA, IBF and WBO titles is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, which could spark more controversy following the scrutiny placed on golf in recent days.

A number of major winners are playing in the LIV Golf Invitational Series, a £20million event – the most lucrative golf tournament in history – backed by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund which has seen those involved criticised due to the country’s poor human rights record.

Hearn, who took Joshua there in 2019 for his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr, said: “I am very comfortable, particularly in boxing, with decisions that we make like that for many different reasons.

“Firstly, we’ve done it before and it was a huge success. I’ve seen actually the work that has gone in to make a major sporting event for the region. It is not a game of golf.

“I am not saying the golfers shouldn’t play in this tournament but what I am saying is this is a prize fight where contractually with this we have to go to the venue that ultimately creates the most amount of revenue for the fight whether AJ likes it or not, but it is not even close.

I have to make sure (the fighters) make as much money as possible. - Eddie Hearn

“It is not like there is a little bit of difference (financially) to do it in London. It is a whole stratosphere.

“What these golfers have to do is sit