Tony Bellew has slammed the prospect of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua being staged in America.
Fury and Joshua are expected to finally deliver their long-awaited heavyweight battle in November, with reports suggesting Madison Square Garden in New York is the frontrunner to host the all-British battle.
Bellew had a viral argument with his former promoter, Eddie Hearn last month questioning the idea of the pair fighting abroad.
The former cruiserweight world champion has doubled down on those comments, as talk of the clash landing in the US gathers pace.
“I would understand if it was going to Saudi, because they’re paying for the fight,” the 43-year-old said on Fight Your Corner.
“What I don’t like and what I don’t understand is why it’s going to the US.
“Why take a British fight and put it in America?
“Because no one cares in America.
“The American boxing public don’t care about Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
“So, why should the fight go there?”
View this post on Instagram
Hearn, who has promoted ‘AJ’ since his professional debut in 2013, insists the contract the Watford man signed states the bout must happen in the UK.
Saudi Arabian boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh, who is bankrolling the event revealed last month the fight would have to start at 2am if it were to be held at Wembley Stadium.
And Hearn has maintained he will do everything he can to ensure the long-overdue meeting takes place in front of a UK crowd.
“I really feel strongly that this is something that should happen in the UK and we’ll do all we can,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“We’re up against it.
“It seems like everybody else has agreed but Anthony Joshua.
“He feels a little bit of responsibility to UK fight fans as well, and he’s doing everything he can to give them what they want.
“We’re ready to go in November, so there’s no reason for this fight to be delayed.
“We will try and make it as financially unviable as possible to do this fight in the US, so that hopefully they just turn around and say, ‘okay, let’s just do it in the UK’.
“Apparently, [New York] is the entertainment capital of the world.
“Who cares? It’s two Brits and the biggest fight in the British boxing history.
“But I understand business.”
Joshua dramatically climbed off the canvas twice, before stopping Kristian Prenga in the second round in Saudi Arabia last month.
A day earlier, Fury eased past Mariusz Wach in seven rounds in a warm-up bout in Thailand.
