Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could finally settle their long-running heavyweight rivalry, but the much-anticipated meeting may take place in New York instead of Britain.
Madison Square Garden is reportedly the leading candidate to stage the contest, with Netflix said to be pushing for the event to be held in the United States.
Sports Illustrated journalist Chris Mannix believes there is a strong chance the bout will be moved across the Atlantic. He also reported that organisers are looking at a Friday night schedule, rather than the Saturday dates commonly used for major boxing events in Britain.
November 20 has reportedly been discussed as a possible date, with the timing expected to help the event avoid competition from college football broadcasts in the American market.
The proposed fight remains on track after both heavyweights secured victories in their latest appearances. Fury, 37, stopped Mariusz Wach during his comeback outing in Thailand, while Joshua, 36, had to recover from being knocked down twice by Kristian Prenga in Jeddah before stopping his opponent.
The Joshua-Fury clash could generate more than £100 million in total earnings, making it one of the biggest boxing events in recent years.
However, the proposed move to America could prove controversial. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has previously maintained that an agreement with Joshua requires the Fury contest 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 previously said.
Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi Arabian boxing powerbroker involved in the negotiations, reportedly prefers an American venue because of the larger television and commercial market available to the fight.
The possibility of Madison Square Garden hosting the event has already frustrated some British boxing supporters. Many believe the long-awaited clash should happen at Wembley Stadium, where Joshua has fought several major bouts, rather than in New York.
Mannix also criticised the reported plan, describing it as a major disappointment for British fans who have waited years for the two former world champions to finally face each other.
Adding to the anticipation, Joshua’s former training partner Richard Riakporhe said Joshua has been preparing for the possibility of facing Fury intermittently for around five years.
Several efforts to arrange the contest have failed in the past, but the latest developments have once again raised hopes that the fight will finally happen.
Despite the growing speculation, the organisers are yet to announce a confirmed date or location, with negotiations between the promoters and broadcasters still continuing.
