The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) in the UK has announced the cancellation of all boxing shows until at least April due to the coronavirus pandemic. This decision also raises the possibility of the scheduled June fight between Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev being canceled if the coronavirus crisis persists.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a press conference on Monday night, advised all sporting bodies to suspend events involving crowds for the foreseeable future. In compliance with this directive, the BBBC has put all its events on hold.
The BBBC’s press release suggested the option of holding fights behind closed doors, stating, “With regard to the statement made by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, all public tournaments [shows] under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control are unfortunately cancelled. Further consideration of the matter will take place at the beginning of April. We have a number of requests for tournaments to be held behind closed doors; however, the practicality and logistics will be considered fully following advice from Board Medical Officers.”
Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, dismissed the possibility of Joshua fighting in an empty stadium due to the coronavirus. He expressed his concerns, stating, “I don’t like it because boxing is a sport that is built on that energy, those great moments where the crowd goes crazy and everyone’s in the stands singing ‘Sweet Caroline’. Also, the bigger shows are gate-dependent in terms of the money for the shows. To pay the fighters, to make sure that everything can get taken care of, for the undercard. When you start talking about AJ, when you start talking about Oleksandr Usyk, when you start talking about Dillian Whyte, the crowd is very [important] to the success of that event.”
Hearn also acknowledged the potential need to stage events behind closed doors for smaller shows, but emphasized his reluctance for bigger events. He concluded by saying, “But for the bigger events, not just financially, it don’t sit right with me.”