USA emerges as frontrunner to host Joshua-Fury blockbuster

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s long-awaited heavyweight showdown is increasingly likely to take place in the United States, with New York’s Madison Square Garden emerging as the leading venue for the highly anticipated “Battle of Britain”.

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Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix said the fight was “almost certain” to be staged in America, with Netflix reportedly pushing negotiations towards a Friday night event rather than the traditional Saturday slot used for major British boxing contests.

November 20 has been mentioned as a possible date for the bout, with organisers keen to avoid a clash with major college football coverage in the United States.

Both fighters recently kept their hopes of a blockbuster meeting alive by returning to winning ways. Fury, 37, defeated Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua, 36, recovered from a difficult opening round to stop Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The proposed fight is expected to generate a purse of more than £100 million, making it one of the biggest events in boxing history.

However, the potential move to the United States has created tension, particularly after Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn previously stated that his agreement with the former world champion required the bout to be held in the United Kingdom.

“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,” Hearn told BoxingScene.

Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh, who has played a major role in the negotiations, is reportedly favouring a US venue to maximise the fight’s commercial appeal and television audience.

The possibility of Madison Square Garden hosting the contest has sparked criticism from some British boxing fans, who believe the fight should take place at Wembley Stadium given the long history between the two heavyweight rivals.

Mannix described the potential decision as a disappointment for British supporters, saying: “It’s not complicated. It’s money. This is the biggest slap in the face of British boxing fans that you could possibly make.”

Meanwhile, Joshua’s former training partner Richard Riakporhe revealed that the two-time heavyweight champion has been preparing for a possible Fury fight for several years, after previous attempts to arrange the bout fell through.

Despite the growing expectation that the fight will happen later this year, an official date and venue are yet to be confirmed, with promoters and broadcasters still finalising details.