Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has name-dropped New Zealand as one of three possible countries to host an undisputed Battle of Britain heavyweight bout between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Before global sport was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, Joshua, the IBF, WBA and WBO champion, was set to defend his belts against Kubrat Pulev in June, while Fury, the WBC champ, was due to fight Deontay Wilder in July.
But the demand to watch Joshua against Fury and according to ESPN, Eddie Hearn is talking to MTK Global - Fury's advisors - who are negotiating on behalf of his co-promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren.
Hearn downplayed the negotiations, but admitted there have been talks about potentially convincing Pulev and Wilder to step aside, adding that there have been approaches from Saudi Arabia to potentially host the event, but it's not the only country that could host the fight.
"We don't know which territory will be allowed to implement a live audience," Hearn told SKy Sports UK.
"For example New Zealand has zero [coronavirus] cases and Australia very few. Certain countries can start up sooner than others.
"We would love to bring AJ-Fury to the UK but in December that doesn't look like a possibility.
"We're talking, we're moving in the right direction, we've all got the same mindset to create the biggest fight in boxing history between two British world champions for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
"You will get this fight. It's just a case of when and where.
"There is a financial barrier to overcome but we have to ride that wave in the short-term.
"We want to stage major shows behind closed doors because it will be ground-breaking and innovative. The plans are illustrious. I don't want a TV studio with no atmosphere. We want to create a unique moment, a unique destination."
New Zealand has 1132 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 347 probable, bringing New Zealand's total to 1479, while 19 people have died.
The British Boxing Board of Control is "hopeful" that the sport can resume in July but without fans in attendance, with a maximum of five fights per event and with a pre-tournament medical form, COVID-19 testing and pre-tournament quarantine.
