The much‑anticipated heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is still slated to be confirmed before the end of August, even though talks are swirling about moving the all‑British clash across the Atlantic to the United States. New York, and in particular the iconic Madison Square Garden, has emerged as the front‑runner for the venue, with promoters eyeing the historic arena as the stage for what could become one of the biggest fights in recent boxing history.
Eddie Hearn, the man who steers Joshua's career, has been candid about the logistical hurdles. While he admits that no final decision has been made to shift the bout to America, he remains confident that the fight will be sealed this month. "At the end of August there will be a press conference," Hearn told Sky Sports News, underscoring the timeline that fans and stakeholders alike are watching closely.
Hearn was careful not to rule out a U.S. location outright, noting that circumstances can evolve. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you there's no way the fight's happening in America because things can change," he said.
Nonetheless, he expressed a strong preference for a UK setting, arguing that the fight belongs on British soil and that his team will exhaust every avenue to keep it there. "We feel this should happen in the UK and we'll do all we can," Hearn added. He also highlighted the delicate balance between commercial interests and fan expectations. "It seems like everybody else has agreed but Anthony Joshua.
He feels a little bit of responsibility to UK fight fans as well, and he's doing everything he can to give them what they want," Hearn explained. This sense of duty to the domestic audience appears to be a driving factor behind the push for a home‑grown venue. The broader boxing calendar for 2026 is already packed with marquee events, and the Fury‑Joshua bout is expected to be a centerpiece. Promoters are also promoting related content, from streaming services that offer contract‑free boxing to podcasts like Toe2Toe that dissect the sport week after week.
The hype machine is in full swing, with highlights and video packages circulating across social media platforms to keep fans engaged. Speculation about a venue change has sparked rumors that the fight could be delayed, but Hearn remains optimistic that an in‑shape Joshua will be ready to step into the ring in November regardless of where the fight ultimately lands.
"We're ready to go in November – so there's no reason for this fight to be delayed," he asserted. This confidence suggests that the athletes' training camps are on schedule and that the promotional timeline is being closely managed. Financial considerations are also at play.
Hearn indicated that his team would strive to make a U.S. staging of the bout as financially unattractive as possible, hoping that the economics will swing the decision back to the UK. "We will try and make it as financially unviable as possible to do this fight in the US, so that hopefully they just turn around and say, 'okay, let's just do it in the UK'," he said.
He acknowledged New York's reputation as "the entertainment capital of the world" but questioned its relevance for a fight that pits two British champions against each other. "Who cares?
It's two Brits and the biggest fight in British boxing history. But I understand business," Hearn concluded. The stakes are high on multiple fronts.
For the fighters, a victory would cement their legacies and potentially open doors to even larger pay‑days. For promoters, the location determines revenue streams, broadcast rights, and sponsorship deals. For fans, especially those in the UK, the desire to see the bout on home turf is palpable, and many are prepared to travel abroad if necessary. Beyond the Fury‑Joshua narrative, other notable fights are on the horizon.
Sky Sports has promoted an upcoming IBF world middleweight title clash between Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha, set to take place in Dublin. The event will be broadcast live, offering another high‑profile bout for boxing enthusiasts to enjoy while they await the heavyweight showdown.
In summary, while the exact venue remains undecided, the consensus among promoters and fighters is that the Fury‑Joshua fight will happen in November, with a final decision on location expected by the end of August. Whether the lights will shine in Madison Square Garden or under the bright beams of a UK arena, the bout promises to be a landmark moment in British boxing, drawing global attention and delivering a spectacle that fans have been yearning for.