Joshua v Fury set for Aug. 14 in Saudi Arabia - Hearn NBA creates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar social justice award
(Reuters) - British rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed an Aug. 14 date for their world heavyweight unification title fight in Saudi Arabia, promoter Eddie Hearn said yesterday.
Hearn, who is Joshua’s promoter, did not provide details of the location but said local organisers planned to build a new stadium. He said the fight was a “done deal”, even if not yet fully signed off by both parties.
“August is about 23 degrees at 11pm, but they want to create something very, very special,” Hearn told Sky Sports television.
“Last time they built the stadium for the Andy Ruiz fight in just seven weeks and that held 18,000 and this will be a similar setup.
“They have the opportunity to hold it indoors but they want to create something that’s going to just shock the world and they want to, if they can, build another stadium just for this fight.”
Joshua fought Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr in Diriyah, on the outskirts of the Saudi capital Riyadh, in December 2019 and won back the belts he had lost in an earlier shock defeat.
The 31-year-old, the 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist, holds the IBF, WBO, WBA and IBO titles while Fury, 32, is the WBC belt holder.
The date avoids a clash with the Tokyo Olympics, which end on Aug. 8. Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken is performance director of GB Boxing.
Fury has not fought for more than a year since his knockout win against American Deontay Wilder while Joshua’s last ring appearance was against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in December.
The fight has been long-awaited, pitting the world’s two top heavyweights in a winner-takes-all title showdown, but has faced plenty of hurdles to get this far.
The two big men have needled each other on Twitter, with Fury posting a video of him hitting a punchbag and the comment that he was “working hard to give the fans a big KO”.
Hearn said he expected to see a different Joshua emerge in the build-up.
“I think he’s excited because he’s never really, other than the Dillian Whyte fight, been in that kind of trash-talk environment,” he said.
“I think he wants to be in that environment, he’s got his own plans for Tyson Fury, he’s going to enjoy it...AJ has got the bit between his teeth, goading him a bit.”
The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award was unveiled by the league yesterday.
The award honors an NBA player for “pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s decades-long values of equality, respect and inclusion.”
Abdul-Jabbar, a six-time league MVP and NBA champion, long has promoted social justice, particularly in his post-playing career.
“In addition to being one of our greatest players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has devoted much of his life to advocating for equality and social justice,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a news release. “With this new award, we are proud to recognize and celebrate NBA players who are using their influence to make an impact on their communities and our broader society.”
All 30 NBA teams will nominate one player from their roster for the award. The finalists and winner will be selected by a committee composed of NBA legends, league executives and social justice leaders.
The winner will select an organization to receive a $100,000 contribution on his behalf. The other four finalists each will receive $25,000 to donate. The inaugural award will be given this year during the postseason.
“I’m honored and grateful to be associated with this award that will recognize the dedicated and selfless people fighting
to promote social justice for all marginalized people,” said Abdul-Jabbar, 74, a 19time All-Star and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “To me, it’s another giant step in the right direction for the country and all people who value equality.”
In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama. In 2009, Abdul-Jabbar created the Skyhook Foundation, aimed at providing educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities.
—Field Level Media