World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is hopeful that boxing fans will be allowed at The O2 in London when he defends his titles against Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev on December 12.
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Joshua, 31, was scheduled to defend his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO belts against the IBF's mandatory challenger Pulev on June 20 but the fight was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rescheduled bout will be the Briton's first on home soil in more than two years but he may have to compete behind closed doors.
"The O2 is the original lion's den, I have a lot of history with the arena, but without the fans something huge is missing," Joshua said.
Plans for the return of fans at stadiums for elite sporting events from October were put on hold by the British government amid a rise in coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom.
"I am really hoping that, safety permitting, we might be able to bring some boxing fans in," Joshua said.
Joshua regained his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr with a unanimous points victory in Saudi Arabia last December.
He will be aiming to put away Pulev and set up a title unification bout against WBC champion Tyson Fury in an all-British blockbuster next year.
Australian Associated Press
