Joshua against Klitschko 

rematch set for November 

11 in Las Vegas 

Anthony Joshua's rematch against Wladimir Klitschko is

'pencilled in' for November 11

• Eddie Hearn suggested the fight would be at the MGM
• Grand or T-Mobile Arena 
• Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round 
• at Wembley Stadium 
• Hearn has also been applying for his license to promote 
• an event in Nevada 

Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title rematch with Wladimir 

Klitschko is all systems go for Las Vegas on November 11.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has applied successfully to stage the

 mega-bucks fight in Nevada.

The new hi-tech T-Mobile Arena has been reserved provisionally

 under the auspices of the MGM Grand group, which is helping 

bankroll the eight-figure purses for the two fighters with 

a massive site fee.

The British boxer emerged as the winner at Wembley Stadium

 with an 11th-round knockout

Hearn said: ‘The venue and the date are the preferred options,

 with T-Mobile and November 11 pencilled in.’

That translates into virtual confirmation that the second edition 

of the epic battle between Joshua and the iconic former 

world champion Klitschko is on.

The details have been in place for a fortnight, awaiting only 

the 41-year-old Klitschko’s commitment to carry on in the ring, 

which has seen him trigger the rematch clause.

The MGM Grand is one of the mooted venues for the fight

 between the two titans

Klitschko and Joshua were very equally matched, in

contrast to pre-fight expectations

A farewell fight in Vegas, the fight capital of the world, is believed

 to have clinched his agreement. So powerful is the lure of 

Vegas that Klitschko has turned down a bonus payment in 

excess of £1.5million to fight under the Principality Stadium

 roof in Cardiff.

That less glamorous option would have given Joshua home

 advantage as huge as that which rescued him from impending 

defeat at Wembley Stadium in April, when he survived 

a knockdown to eventually stop Klitschko in the 11th round.

Win or lose, this is likely to be Klitschko’s last fight and a source

 close to his camp said: ‘If this is to be the end of his fantastic 

career, he wants to go out in style in Vegas.’

Joshua visited Mayweather's boxing gym last week during 

his trip to the United States

The financial disparity of an 80,000 crowd in Cardiff and the

 20,000-seater arena in Vegas will be covered by an expected

 increase in pay-TV sales in America.

Joshua’s willingness to go again has never been in doubt. 

He is looking to expand his marketability into America. Thus 

he has been in Vegas in the past week looking at the venue 

and setting up the facility to train at Floyd Mayweather’s fabled gym.

He is also expected to be at ringside for Mayweather’s 

showdown against UFC fighter Conor McGregor next month. 

Floyd Mayweather (second left) and Anthony Joshua (centre) 

pose for a photograph together

Hearn said: ‘It will probably take a couple of weeks to get this

 over the line but I believe Klitschko in Vegas is the one.’

Among the details to be finalised is whether one or both of 

the major US cable television networks acquire the 

broadcasting rights there. 

In an unusual move both Showtime, with the live transmission, 

and HBO, with the tape delay, screened the Wembley original.

That was made possible by the time difference between 

Britain and America, which enabled a live afternoon screening

 in the US, with the replay the same evening.

Joshua celebrates after his stunning victory at Wembley

Stadium in April 2017

The original plan was for the rematch to take place in a 

football stadium in Ukrainian Klitschko’s adopted Germany,

 with the two US companies switching roles.

Now they may bid against each other, or agree for HBO to go 

live, leaving Showtime to pick up the repeat audience in

 the days following November 11.

Either way, a primetime fight will draw a much bigger

 subscription audience.

Promoter Eddie Hearn spoke about the location and potential 

date in an interview

Joshua will again be favourite to beat the veteran, who reigned

 as world heavyweight champion for more than a decade.

But another incentive for Klitschko is his belief that he would 

have beaten AJ had he gone for the finish after knocking him

 down in the sixth round of the first fight. His brother Vitali, 

also a former world champion, has apologised for advising 

him to husband his strength and ease to a points decision.

Hearn, who conducted his Vegas negotiations under cover 

of a trip there for Matchroom’s darts productions, added: 

‘It will be another momentous occasion.’

Hearn’s contractual agreements with Sky Sports make 

them favourites to carry the fight here on their Box Office channel.

(The Mail, UK)