TOTTENHAM want to make their new stadium Anthony Joshua’s next home venue — nearly 30 years after the controversial last big fight in N17.
The Londoners are ready to open negotiations to host Joshua when the world heavyweight champ returns to the UK later this year.
Joshua is still trying to identify the new opponent for his New York title defence after Jarrell Miller’s doping shame.
But Spurs are keen to replace 90,000-seat Wembley as Joshua’s London venue of choice.
Unlike at Wembley, which bore the scars of Joshua’s win over Alexander Povetkin in October for weeks, Spurs would simply roll the football pitch under the south stand and put the ring and ringside seats down on the artificial surface underneath.
It would be a bill loaded with significance as it was in September 1991 that Michael Watson’s life almost ended in the ring at White Hart Lane after being knocked out by Chris Eubank.
That was the last major bout staged at the ground but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wants to add boxing to the two NFL matches and Saracens’ “Big Game” rugby union ties.
Meanwhile, Andy Ruiz Jr has emerged as a shock contender to be AJ's next opponent.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was set to unveil IBO inter-continental heavyweight champ Michael Hunter as drugs cheat Jarrell Miller’s replacement.
But American slugger Ruiz Jr, 29, gatecrashed the announcement for Joshua’s US debut following his win over Alexander Dimitrenko on Saturday.
The 32-1 Californian, whose only loss was a close 2016 points defeat against then WBO belt holder Joseph Parker, said: “Anthony Joshua, I’m your opponent for June 1.
“I’m here. I’m ready. “We should have met a few years ago when I fought for the WBO belt.
“Styles make fights — I know my style is one that you haven’t met before. That WBO belt is actually mine because the whole world knows I beat Parker for it in New Zealand."
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