Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted the long-awaited heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury must be staged in the United Kingdom, stressing that the existing contract signed by both camps legally commits the fight to a British venue. The bout is expected to take place in October or November, although discussions over the location continue.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is reportedly exploring the possibility of moving the fight outside Britain to maximize its global television audience. Madison Square Garden in New York has emerged as a potential alternative, while concerns have also been raised about London's curfew restrictions if Wembley Stadium were to host a late-night event aimed at overseas viewers.
Hearn, however, maintains that any relocation would require fresh negotiations because the current agreement specifically names the UK as the host country. He emphasized that contracts exist for a reason and said Joshua has consistently made it clear that he wants the biggest all-British heavyweight contest to take place on home soil.
While acknowledging Alalshikh's support for Joshua's career, Hearn explained that neither he nor his fighter is prepared to abandon the existing terms without careful consideration. He described the contest as one that belongs to British boxing fans and believes it deserves to be held in England.
Joshua echoed his promoter's stance, saying Wembley Stadium has always been the intended destination for the fight. According to the former two-time heavyweight champion, no alternative venue was discussed when plans for the matchup were first outlined, and Wembley remains the natural stage because of its history of hosting iconic boxing events.
The debate over the venue intensified after Joshua returned to winning ways with a dramatic second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in Jeddah. Despite being knocked down twice in the opening round, the British star recovered impressively, trapping Prenga in the corner before finishing the fight with a powerful combination that sent his opponent through the ropes.
The victory improved Joshua's professional record to 30 wins and four defeats and kept him on course for the long-awaited clash with Fury. The fight would come just days after Fury also secured a comeback victory by stopping Mariusz Wach, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated all-British heavyweight contests in boxing history.
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