Hearn predicts Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev will take place in front of fans in November after AJ recovers from injury

ANTHONY JOSHUA could be back in a British ring in front of a packed crowd by November.

The Covid-19 lockdown meant the WBA, IBF and WBO king’s July mandatory defence against Kubrat Pulev was postponed.

Promoter Eddie Hearn insists Brit Joshua will not box on a behind-closed-doors show but he believes crowds could return in a few months.

Hearn, who is also tasked with getting Dillian Whyte and Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight world title shots, said: “I really believe that we will start seeing crowds coming back by late-August, certainly September-October and it will be fantastic to do AJ vs Pulev with a crowd.

“I feel like the Pulev fight will happen in November.

“AJ has a very minor knee niggle that was wrapped up but is coming off shortly so it won’t cause problems with the date and I expect that fight to happen around November.”

The knee brace AJ was pictured in at the Black Lives Matter protest in Watford had fans fearing for the upcoming fights.

But Hearn claims it is just a precaution after an injury in training.

He said: “When you’re on crutches, with your leg in a brace, it is never great but it’s not something that will affect his 2020 career or his career at all. 

“He will have it on for three or four weeks, just to make sure he is good to go to resume training. He tweaked the inside of his knee. He’s had scans. No surgery, so that’s good news. 

“He’s got to make sure he doesn’t do any running or heavy work over the next few weeks.”

Whyte is the WBC’s mandatory challenger for Tyson Fury’s belt while Usyk holds the same status with the WBO for AJ’s strap.

But both men are set for a long wait as Fury is heading into a third Deontay Wilder meeting and Joshua must deal with 39-year-old Bulgarian Pulev first.

But Hearn ruled out the two giants meeting on the dream Fury vs AJ undercard.

He said: “Both guys want their shot at the heavyweight world title and it would be such a risky fight for both men to fight each other.

“Unless the sanctioning bodies demand it then it is not really worth it for them.

“Usyk and Whyte are both focussed on the heavyweight world title and mandatory challengers for the respective champions so how are we going to try to tell them to fight each other?”