Anthony Joshua's heavyweight title defence against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev has been officially postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, promoters Matchroom Sport have confirmed.
Joshua was due to put his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts on the line against the Bulgarian challenger at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, though, as anticipated, the current Covid-19 crisis has rendered that date impossible to keep.
In a statement, Matchroom - who have already postponed all events scheduled for April and May - confirmed that they were working to secure a new date later in the summer and still hoped to stage the bout at Spurs' 62,303-seater ground.
"Anthony Joshua’s defence of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO Heavyweight World Titles against Mandatory Challenger Kubrat Pulev scheduled to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday June 20 has been postponed," they said.
"A new date for the event promoted by Matchroom Boxing and 258 Management in association with Top Rank and Epic Sports Entertainment is currently being worked on.
"We will announce any updates in due course and continue to explore the possibility of hosting this fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."
The fight against Pulev will represent the first title defence of Joshua's second heavyweight championship reign after he comfortably avenged his shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in December.
In recent days, Hearn has said that the 30-year-old would be "extremely interested" in contesting an all-British unification showdown against WBC champion Tyson Fury next, though that would require Deontay Wilder - who has activated a clause to secure a trilogy fight with Fury - to step aside.
