Eddie Hearn, promoter for Anothy Joshua, has played down the recent fears that the upcoming rematch with Andy Ruiz would require a location change.
Ruiz, who now holds the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world titles, stopped Joshua in seven rounds back in June at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The contest was shockingly set down for Diriyah in Saudi Arabia - for the date of December 7th.
There were real fears from many, that the location would be switched after oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais in the east of the country were attacked in pre-dawn drone strikes - and the attack has been blamed by some on Iran.
The affected oil plants are nearly 120 miles from the site on where Joshua-Ruiz takes place.
“[After the attack] We did contact our partners in Saudi and ask if everything’s OK, and they said it was. As far as we’re concerned it’s all systems go. It’s a long way from Diriyah. It doesn’t affect the dynamics – the financial dynamics – of the event, as long as everyone’s safe and happy, the fighters and the broadcasters," Hearn told Declan Taylor.
“Right now, unless someone came out of the government and said it’s not safe... The advice is not ‘don’t go there’ but the advice is to travel with caution, it’s the same category as the UK, France and Mexico so there’s no advice from any government to not travel to Saudi Arabia.”
“We can change the venue if something major happens. But [Matchroom CEO] Frank Smith was on a site visit at the stadium last week with the international broadcasters, who all flew, and everyone was happy. Generally, the one thing in terms of research is understanding the culture and what’s allowed, like talking about female presenters. Everyone has questions but once everyone goes and has the meetings they’re very comforted.
“It’s always going to have its criticisms but the logistical meetings are 20 times more advanced than having the same meeting in London or New York. You think ‘this is unbelievable’, everything is like clockwork so you leave happy. We had Errol Spence v Kell Brook four days after the Manchester bombing and it looked like we’d have to cancel that show. We ended up having had to spend significant money on policing and anti-terror squads for the event to go ahead. Things can happen but, all systems go. If we had to change the venue, could it be done? I guess so but it’s not even part of the mindset.”
