The much‑anticipated heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua appears to be edging ever closer to a venue across the Atlantic, with the United States emerging as the probable host rather than the United Kingdom. The latest developments stem from comments made by Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, who disclosed that Turki Al‑Alshikh – the Saudi official tasked with orchestrating the all‑British bout – has now expressed a clear preference for staging the fight on American soil. Al‑Alshikh had previously emphasized his desire to schedule the encounter at a time that would accommodate a global television audience. He even indicated a willingness to sit down with London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, to discuss a later‑than‑usual start time that might suit viewers in different time zones.

The idea was to keep the fight in the UK while still reaching fans worldwide. However, recent reporting by Sky Sports News has thrown a wrench into those plans. The outlet revealed that Brent Council – the local authority responsible for Wembley Stadium – has not yet been approached about the possibility of extending the venue’s curfew to permit a 2 a.m. ring‑walk, a logistical tweak that would have allowed the bout to begin later in the evening without breaching local regulations.

Without that concession, a late‑night start in London becomes far more complicated. In an interview with DAZN, conducted ahead of Joshua’s warm‑up fight against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, Hearn said: “We were told in the last 24 hours that a fight in America is what they want.” He went on to stress that this new demand does not line up with the terms of the contract that both promoters signed earlier in the year. “Until we are satisfied, we expect every point of that contract to be honoured,” Hearn added, asserting that the agreement explicitly states the fight must take place in the UK. Joshua himself has been vocal about the contractual language.

He insists that the clause requiring a British venue is non‑negotiable, and any attempt to move the event abroad would necessitate a fresh negotiation. “If they want to change the contract, then we have to renegotiate the contract. Which, by the way, is not a problem.

But it’s a conversation we have to have,” Hearn explained, indicating that while a renegotiation is possible, it would add another layer of complexity to an already delicate situation. Meanwhile, Fury has not been convinced that Joshua will ultimately agree to the terms, and he has taken the opportunity to question his rival’s willingness to face him in the ring. Speaking after his seventh‑round stoppage of Mariusz Wach in a non‑televised bout in Thailand, Fury referenced the moment in April when Joshua chose not to step into the ring with him after his own victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I got through my test. Let’s see if [Joshua] gets through his test.

The biggest test of it all is how big his balls are,” Fury said, adding a colorful metaphor: “I think he’s a big s***house. In Tottenham, in front of 70,000 people, he never had the guts to get in the ring and face me.

Let’s see if he ever does. I’m not convinced.” Fury’s comments underscore the psychological warfare that often accompanies heavyweight negotiations. He continued, “I’ll regroup. Hopefully the next big fight is signed next week, and we head wherever we’re going to head.

Is it gonna be in Vegas? Is it gonna be in New York? Is it gonna be in Ireland?

Is it gonna be in London? Who knows, Belfast maybe?

It might even be here in Pattaya, Thailand!” His speculation about possible locations highlights the uncertainty that still surrounds the bout, as both camps weigh the financial and logistical implications of each venue. The broader context of the heavyweight division adds further intrigue. Both fighters command massive global followings, and a clash between them would likely generate billions of dollars in pay‑per‑view revenue, ticket sales, and ancillary sponsorship deals. The United States, with its established infrastructure for high‑profile boxing events – from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York – offers a proven formula for maximizing revenue and media exposure.

Conversely, keeping the fight in the UK would satisfy national pride and could boost the British boxing market, but it would require navigating local regulations, such as the aforementioned curfew at Wembley, and ensuring a broadcast window that serves audiences across multiple continents. Adding another layer, the involvement of Saudi Arabia’s sports ministry, represented by Al‑Alshikh, signals a growing trend of Middle Eastern investment in high‑profile boxing events. The Saudi government has been keen to position itself as a hub for major sporting spectacles, and the Fury‑Joshua bout would fit neatly into that strategy.

Yet the Saudi backers appear willing to be flexible about location, provided the fight generates the global reach they desire. In practical terms, a move to the United States would likely mean a later start time for European viewers, but it would also open the door to a prime‑time slot on American television, potentially attracting a larger share of the lucrative US market. It would also simplify logistical concerns such as curfew restrictions, as many US venues operate with fewer nighttime limitations for sporting events. For fans, the key takeaway is that negotiations are still very much alive, and the final decision could hinge on a single clause in a contract, the willingness of a promoter to renegotiate, and the strategic priorities of the parties involved.

Whether the bout ultimately lands in a glittering Vegas arena, a historic London stadium, or even a surprising location like Belfast or Pattaya, the clash of these two heavyweight titans promises to be one of the defining moments of the sport’s modern era. As the calendar for 2026 continues to fill out with other major fights, the Fury‑Joshua showdown remains the marquee event that could reshape the heavyweight landscape for years to come.

Boxing enthusiasts worldwide will be watching closely, awaiting the final announcement that will confirm where—and when—the two giants will finally meet in the ring.