Frank Warren is confident that the much‑anticipated heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will ultimately be staged on American soil, despite recent speculation that the fight might be in jeopardy. The two British former world champions appeared to be on a clear path to a showdown in London this November, but the ambitions of Saudi‑backed promoter Sela to relocate the event to the United States have introduced a new wrinkle.
Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, has been vocal about keeping the fight in the UK capital, a stance that prompted Fury to comment last week that the matchup was "in serious doubt" because his opponent was reportedly demanding a larger purse. Yet Warren, who handles Fury’s interests, has moved to calm the nerves, insisting that the Gypsy King would have liked the contest to happen in Britain as well. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Warren said, "I genuinely think it will happen. His Excellency Turki Al‑Alsheikh will announce it very soon.
I know there have been some contractual hiccups between Matchroom and AJ, but I believe they will be ironed out." He added that Fury has already travelled to the United States, currently training in Miami, and is preparing for the fight regardless of the venue. Warren acknowledged that both fighters would love to see the event take place at Wembley Stadium, but he emphasized that the final decision now rests with broadcasters and promoters who are keen on an American setting. "Because of the amount of money involved, I hope I'm wrong, but I think it will go on in America," he said.
He also reminded listeners that staging a major fight outside the UK is far from unprecedented in boxing history. "You had two massive American heroes in Muhammad Ali and George Foreman," Warren noted. "All the Americans wanted to see it, Vegas wanted to host it, Madison Square Garden was eager, and the fight eventually ended up in Zaire. Everybody wondered why, but it became an iconic moment in sport." Warren drew further parallels with other historic bouts, mentioning the "Thrilla in Manila" between Ali and Joe Frazier and even Ali’s fight with Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur, underscoring that geography has never stopped marquee match‑ups from happening.
He likened the situation to football legend David Beckham, who moved abroad toward the end of his career for financial reasons, and said, "These guys are professional boxers. They make decisions based on their careers and earnings." While Warren confessed that he would personally love to see the clash at Wembley and that the British fan base would undoubtedly relish a home‑ground spectacle, he reiterated that the ultimate authority lies with the television network that is backing the American venue. "The fans would love it at Wembley, of course, but the broadcasters have the final say and they are pushing for a US location," he concluded. In summary, despite the back‑and‑forth over contracts and the tug‑of‑war between UK and US promoters, Warren’s optimism suggests that the Fury‑Joshua fight is still very much alive.
The likely scenario, according to him, is that the bout will travel across the Atlantic, joining a long line of legendary fights that have transcended borders to become part of boxing folklore.