The long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua may already be signed, but one major question remains unanswered: Where will it take place?
While Saudi boxing chairman Turki Alalshikh is reportedly exploring alternative venues including New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, says the contract is crystal clear.
As far as Team Joshua is concerned, the fight belongs in the United Kingdom.
Hearn: The Contract Calls for a UK Fight
Speaking after Joshua’s dramatic second-round knockout victory over Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, Hearn revealed that extensive negotiations led to an agreement requiring the bout to take place on British soil.
“There’s a reason we put contracts together,” Hearn said.
“There’s a reason that AJ employs lawyers. There’s a reason me and him sit down and have endless conversations to make sure that every move is correct.”
According to Hearn, Joshua was adamant from the beginning that the biggest fight in British boxing should happen at home.
“We insisted that this fight was in the UK.”
“AJ said to me, ‘I want the fight in the UK. This is a British fight.’ I can’t agree more.”
Saudi Arabia Exploring Alternatives
Although the fight is expected to take place in October or November, Turki Alalshikh reportedly hopes to stage the event at a time that maximizes the global television audience.
One proposal would require an exemption to Wembley Stadium’s existing curfew to allow a 2 a.m. local start time. If that proves impossible, Madison Square Garden has reportedly emerged as Alalshikh’s preferred alternative venue.
However, Eddie Hearn says moving the fight outside Britain would require renegotiating the existing agreement.
“The only way the fight doesn’t take place in England is if Anthony Joshua and myself agree to it because we have a legally binding contract that took a long, long time to negotiate.”
Respect for Turki Alalshikh
Despite standing firm on the venue, Hearn praised Alalshikh for his continued investment in boxing and support of Joshua’s career.
“Turki Alalshikh is our partner and has been an unbelievable supporter of Anthony Joshua.”
Hearn emphasized that the disagreement is strictly about honoring the agreement rather than creating conflict.
Still, he believes the magnitude of Fury versus Joshua demands a British setting.
“Let’s be honest, this is a fight for the British public.”
Joshua echoed his promoter’s stance, saying the plan has always been for Wembley Stadium to host the biggest all-British heavyweight fight in decades.
“When these conversations started, there was no other venue or location that was ever mentioned.”
Joshua said the roadmap was always straightforward.
“You fight, come back, fight, and then providing you’re victorious, you’ll be fighting Tyson Fury in the UK, basically Wembley.”
The former two-time heavyweight champion believes staging the fight anywhere else would diminish its legacy.
“I wouldn’t expect it to be at Tottenham or the Principality Stadium, respectfully. It’s just got that history when you think of Wembley.”
He added that he doesn’t understand where the recent speculation about other venues originated.
“I’m not too sure where all this conversation started of different locations.”
Heavyweight Blockbuster Nears
Both heavyweight stars successfully handled their tune-up bouts over the weekend. Joshua rallied from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, while Fury returned to Thailand and scored a seventh-round stoppage over veteran Mariusz Wach.
With both men victorious and contracts reportedly signed, the only remaining questions are when and where boxing fans will finally witness one of the most anticipated heavyweight clashes of the modern era.
If Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua have their way, that moment will unfold beneath the famous arch of Wembley Stadium, where British boxing history has been made for generations.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
