Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon both vying to close Central Park concert

It’s The Boxer versus The Boss.

An insider tells Web page Six that music icons Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen are each battling to shut the live performance in Central Park that’s slated to happen on the Nice Garden on Aug. 21.

There are legitimate arguments for each legendary performers. Springsteen, 71, is at the moment starring on Broadway on the Walter Kerr Theater and he’s well-known for his exuberant reside performances and for being a beloved son of … New Jersey.

Queens native Simon, 79, has written many songs concerning the Huge Apple, together with “The Solely Dwelling Boy in New York” and “The 59th Avenue Bridge Tune.” And naturally, he and Artwork Garfunkel held their very own live performance in Central Park again in 1981.

The extravaganza, meant to rejoice New York Metropolis’s resilience and revival after the brutal COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, is being produced by music trade maven Clive Davis for Mayor Invoice DeBlasio.

Page Six previously reported that The Boss is about to do a duet with Patti Smith. There’s a great probability their quantity will likely be “As a result of the Evening,” which Springsteen penned and have become an enormous hit for Smith in 1978.

Jennifer Hudson — who will likely be seen this summer time starring in a biopic on Aretha Franklin — can also be scheduled to sing, in addition to Brooklyn-born entertainer Barry Manilow. Diana Ross was approached to participate however declined.

The extravaganza will air on CNN and Davis has boasted that eight “iconic” stars will carry out throughout the three-hour present to a sizeable crowd of 60,000.

Representatives for Davis, Springsteen and Simon didn’t reply for remark.