Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua location ‘confirmed’ as UK likely to miss out on the big fight
In the latest update on the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua story, their upcoming (but still unofficial) fight might not take place in the UK after all.
Both fighters, who are proud British heavyweights, have wanted to bring the fight home for their fans. But with several promoters pushing for the big match to happen in places like Riyadh, choosing a venue has been a major hurdle in finalizing the deal.
Now, it looks like a location has been picked, thanks to Tyson Fury’s possible new team. After Fury’s recent return to the ring and his quick call-out of AJ, the fight seemed almost certain. However, contract talks have been slow.
At first, it seemed the fight would happen in the UK, possibly split between both fighters’ home grounds, especially since Joshua’s contract suggested that. But with Fury teaming up with Zuffa – Dana White’s new agency – reports say the fight will likely take place in Las Vegas. According to The Athletic, “Las Vegas has emerged as a frontrunner to host the bout, with other American cities under consideration.”
This news came soon after Fury made a surprise visit to the White House. The fight is still expected in November, but a delay to December is becoming more possible. This makes Wembley Stadium less likely because of weather worries, as Tyson Fury’s manager Spencer Brown explained in an interview.
“We all want it to be Wembley, but the problem is, will it rain hard? Will it be freezing cold?” he said. “It might be better to have it in America because it’s going to be very expensive at that time of year.” Brown added that Fury’s biggest fights have mostly been in the US, where he also has a huge fan base. “It would be a shame for the English fans, but the fight will still sell out and be watched worldwide.”
Both fighters are also expected to have warm-up fights before they face each other. Fury has been hinting at a match with Albanian Nelson Hysa and said that Andy Ruiz Jr – known for ending AJ’s undefeated streak – turned down a chance to fight him.