Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is still the front runner to host Joshua vs Ruiz Jr II. Mexican Ruiz Jr shocked the boxing world when he stole the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles with a seventh-round stoppage in New York. But Joshua is likely to try to regain his belts on home soil. However, Hearn has teased the possibility of taking the blockbuster bout to another international venue.

“I have been ringing Ruiz’s team this week and keeping them up to speed with where we are going,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “Look, they don’t want to come to the UK, they never have done. “I think they used the Dillian Whyte saga as a little bit of a scapegoat. “We have to take that into consideration. Contractually, we know our position.

Eddie Hearn has provided an update on Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr

Andy Ruiz Jr shocked the boxing world by beating Anthony Joshua

“We want to make sure we get the fight done and we want to respect Andy Ruiz. “We will decide where the venue is. A neutral venue he would be much happier with but I think I can rule out America right now. “Cardiff is still the favourite and the front runner but there are some other interesting options that would be quite iconic internationally, that does involve quite a lot of aggravation logistically. “It does involve a spectacle that would be quite unique.

The pair are expected to rematch later this year