The long-awaited heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is expected to take place in the United States, with New York’s Madison Square Garden now the leading contender to stage the highly anticipated contest.
According to Sports Illustrated journalist Chris Mannix, the bout is now “almost certain” to be held in America after Netflix reportedly pushed negotiations away from the United Kingdom. The streaming platform is also said to prefer a Friday night event instead of the traditional Saturday schedule usually associated with major British boxing matches.
One of the dates being discussed is November 20, a choice believed to have been made to avoid competing with college football broadcasts in the United States.
The fight regained momentum after both heavyweight stars recorded victories last month. Fury, 37, secured a stoppage win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua, 36, overcame an early scare in Jeddah, recovering from two first-round knockdowns before knocking out Kristian Prenga.
The blockbuster showdown is expected to generate a purse exceeding £100 million, making it one of the richest fights in British boxing history.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has maintained that the terms of the former champion’s contract require the fight to be staged in the UK. However, Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, who has played a major role in the negotiations, is reportedly pushing for an American venue to maximise television viewership in the US market.
Speaking previously with BoxingScene, Hearn said: “There has been some murmuring of the fight taking place in the US. The contract specifically states that the fight must take place in the UK.”
The possibility of moving the event to New York has disappointed many fans, with supporters arguing that a contest of this magnitude should be held at Wembley Stadium. Many believe the all-British rivalry deserves a home crowd rather than an overseas audience.
Mannix described the decision as a major blow for British boxing supporters, arguing that financial considerations have taken priority over tradition.
“It’s not complicated. It’s money. This is the biggest slap in the face of British boxing fans that you could possibly make,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joshua’s former sparring partner, Richard Riakporhe, revealed that the two-time world champion has spent the past five years preparing for a potential meeting with Fury, despite previous negotiations collapsing on two separate occasions.
Although talks continue between promoters and broadcasters, neither the official date nor the venue has been confirmed.
