Nigeria has bid to host the next title defense for WBA/IBF/WBO World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua.
Joshua is close to finalizing a deal to face IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev. According to noted promoter John Wirt, Nigeria must beat the United Kingdom, Las Vegas, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in order to host the epic battle in the country.
“We feel that we are very close,” said Wirt. “Indeed, this is backed up by the parties extending the negotiating period to January 31. Things got pushed back due to the holidays and vacations and the resulting delays in obtaining the information we need from the various sites to be able to compare offers. But things have been moving very quickly the last couple of weeks and we hope to be able to formally announce something by the end of the month.
“We’ve had bids from the UK, Las Vegas, New York, Nigeria, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The favored destination is the one that will be the most profitable.”
Joshua often visits Nigeria, the nation of his parents, and bringing a big fight to Africa has long been an ambition of his. Pulev, meanwhile, recently indicated the showdown would go to Turkey.
–sunnewsonline.com
