Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown is increasingly likely to take place in the United States, with New York’s Madison Square Garden emerging as the leading venue after Netflix reportedly pushed for the fight to be staged outside the United Kingdom.
According to Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix, it is “almost certain” that the blockbuster bout will be held in the US, with the streaming platform favouring a Friday night schedule rather than the traditional Saturday slot associated with major British boxing events.
November 20 has reportedly been identified as a potential date for the contest, partly to avoid a clash with the American college football schedule.
Both former world champions revived hopes of the long-awaited “Battle of Britain” by recording victories last month. Fury, 37, stopped Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua, 36, overcame two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in Jeddah.
The fight is expected to generate a purse exceeding £100 million, underlining its status as one of the biggest events in heavyweight boxing.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has previously maintained that the boxer’s contract requires the fight to be staged in the United Kingdom. However, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who has played a central role in negotiations, is understood to favour a US venue to maximise the fight’s appeal and television audience in the American market.
