Anthony Joshua’ s rematch with Wladimir Klitschko has been pencilled in for November 11 in Las Vegas, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Undefeated Joshua, 27, added the vacant WBA Super title to his IBF crown when he stopped 41-year-old Klitschko in the 11th round at Wembley Stadium in April.
And a second showdown between the heavyweights appears destined to take place Stateside — despite interest as far afield as Nigeria and Dubai.
Speaking to Sky Sports News , Matchroom Boxing supremo Hearn said: “I’ve been in Vegas with AJ, officially applying for my Nevada boxing licence to promote there and that went well.
“I met with the MGM and met with the T-Mobile Arena. Vegas is the front-runner and November 11 is the date that is pencilled in.
“It will probably take a couple of weeks to get everything over the line, but I believe Klitschko will take this fight and believe Vegas will be the one.
“AJ has been over there for about 10 days and has enjoyed himself and got to know the area a little bit.
“With the amount of British fight fans that would travel there, it will be a momentous occasion and one that we will savour for a long time, so fingers crossed it’s a party in Las Vegas on November 11.”
Stephen Espinoza, boss of American broadcaster Showtime, is confident the rematch would be a huge draw in Vegas.
He said: “It’s no secret we’ve been salivating about getting him over here and certainly that would be a phenomenal fight.
“It would be the biggest heavyweight Vegas fight in probably a couple of decades, so we would love to host it.
“That’s a massive mega-fight wherever it is. The first fight was a star-making performance and for many here in the US it was their introduction to Joshua.”
The T-Mobile Arena, owned by AEG and MGM Resorts International, holds 20,000 fans and previously hosted Amir Khan’s showdown with Saul Alvarez.
An MGM spokesman said: “Las Vegas is the fight capital of the world and we host the biggest names in sports and entertainment. The Joshua-Klitschko fight would simply add to that.
“Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor is on the table for August 26 and Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin will be September 16, so this will just add to that great boxing calendar in Vegas.”
