LONDON CALLING

Spurs are favourites to host AJ’s title defence

ANTHONY JOSHUA is heading for a homecoming fight as he flies back from saudi Arabia bearing the belts he reclaimed from Andy Ruiz Jnr in saturday night’s rematch.

‘London’s calling,’ said Joshua (right) as he reviewed his extended options now he is enshrined as a two- time world heavyweight champion. tottenham’s new stadium is the favoured venue for a spring return, since Wembley is embroiled in the European Championship finals in May.

Promoter Eddie hearn said: ‘spurs were very keen to put on this fight with Ruiz until saudi Arabia made such a big offer.’ Who against, is the question. that choice will be between the mandatory contenders for two of Joshua’s titles, Kubrat Pulev for the WBA belt or oleksandr usyk the IBF. Pulev is the veteran Bulgarian whose only defeat in 29 fights was

at the KO fists of Wladimir Klitschko five years ago. As for Deontay Wilder, who holds the WBC title, the only one not back in his possession, Joshua said: ‘This is the one I’ve wanted for a long, long time. It has to happen one day.’ Just not next. That will come too soon since Wilder has a rematch of his own to contend with in late February against Tyson Fury, of whom Joshua says: ‘Another one high on our list.’ Joshua needs to tick off his mandatory challengers if possible to avoid being stripped of a belt and thus keep alive the dream of becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis 20 years ago. ‘That’s always been the ambition,’ he says. ‘It’s difficult because of the obligations to all the organisations but I hope to have the chance to go for it.’ Joshua was gazing down on a world of opportunities from the windows of a 77th-floor restaurant overlooking Riyadh. Word came that his redemption had broken the UK pay-per-view record on Sky of 1.6 million subscribers.