Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury is reportedly close to being staged in the United States rather than the United Kingdom.
According to Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix, Netflix has influenced the proposed location, with Madison Square Garden in New York currently considered the frontrunner. The fight is described as “almost certain” to take place in the US, although no venue or date has been officially confirmed.
Netflix is also reportedly considering staging the heavyweight showdown on a Friday night instead of the traditional Saturday schedule used for major British boxing events. November 20 has been mentioned as one possible date, with the unusual timing intended to avoid competition from college football.
The matchup moved closer after both men won comeback fights. Fury defeated Mariusz Wach, while Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in the second.
A US venue would disappoint many British supporters who have waited years to see the domestic rivals meet at home. Former Joshua trainer Robert Garcia has also questioned the wisdom of returning Joshua to New York, where he suffered his shock stoppage defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019.
Despite concerns that the rivalry has lost some momentum, Joshua vs. Fury remains one of boxing’s biggest available events, with the combined purse reportedly capable of exceeding £100 million.
Image Credit: BBC