The long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is expected to take place in the United States, with Madison Square Garden in New York emerging as the leading venue after negotiations reportedly shifted away from the United Kingdom.
Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix, the bout is “almost certain” to be staged in the United States, with streaming platform Netflix said to be pushing for a Friday night schedule instead of the traditional Saturday slot associated with major British boxing events.
Both heavyweights kept the mega-fight on track with wins last month: Fury stopped Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua weathered two first-round knockdowns before stopping Kristian Prenga in Jeddah. The pair are 37 and 36, respectively, and the purse is being pegged north of £100 million.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has maintained that his agreement with Joshua requires the fight to take place in the UK. But Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh, a central figure in brokering the bout, is said to prefer a US location to maximize American television reach.
The possibility of the fight taking place in New York has sparked disappointment among many boxing fans, who believe a contest of such magnitude should be held at Wembley Stadium in London.
Mannix described the reported decision as a major disappointment for British supporters, arguing that financial considerations had taken precedence over the interests of fans.
Meanwhile, Joshua’s former training partner, Richard Riakporhe, revealed that the former world champion has been preparing intermittently for a Fury bout over the past five years after two previous attempts to arrange the contest failed.
No official date or venue has yet been announced, with discussions between promoters and broadcasters continuing.
Hadizat Giwa