Boxing fans can mark their calendars: the long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is slated for November, according to Frank Warren, Fury's promoter. Warren's announcement has ended months of speculation, though the exact venue remains under wraps, with a US location like Madison Square Garden in New York emerging as the frontrunner due to global broadcast considerations.
Wembley vs. US Venue: The Key Decision
Initial plans had pointed to Wembley Stadium in the UK as the host, but discussions over start times to cater to a global audience have shifted momentum toward the United States. Warren revealed in an interview with Boxing Scene that Wembley was approached, but the request to push back the start time was not accommodated. "Of course I do, but they contacted Wembley, didn’t they, Sela, and asked if they would push the time back and, as far as I understand, that has not happened," Warren said.
The final decision rests with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi boxing powerbroker who has been instrumental in organizing major fights. Warren emphasized that the official announcement is not his to make: "We have our arrangement and promotional arrangement with Tyson but it is not for me to announce what is going to happen with that fight yet… You have a big fight coming up with the two senior heavyweights in Tyson and AJ. Everybody is waiting for that to happen in November and be announced. In the meantime, you have got all these other guys jockeying around."
Fighters' Motivation and Legacy
Warren also addressed the fighters' motivations, dismissing concerns about their ages or recent form. With only a year between their ages, he argued that this fight is happening at the right time, even if both are past their physical peaks. "The one thing about these guys is there is only a year between their ages and, irrespective of when it would have taken place, the fact is it didn’t and what we have got is what we have got now. We have two guys who are getting very well paid but, more importantly, they both want to win the fight in a big way," he said.
Drawing a parallel to the classic Wladimir Klitschko vs. Anthony Joshua bout, Warren noted that even a slightly past-prime fighter can produce a classic. "Look at [Wladimir] Klitschko when he fought AJ. AJ was in his prime and Klitschko came off a loss against Tyson and wasn’t at his best, but it was a great fight. Who would have won in his prime? You would have liked to see that fight in their primes and your money would have probably gone on Klitschko, who knows?"
Both Fighters Want It More Than Ever
Warren stressed that both Fury and Joshua are determined to win, and that hunger will be the deciding factor. "Neither wants to be the loser. There comes a time in some fighters’ careers where people think they are maybe not at their best but they go and dig deep to find something else. These two guys will have to dig deep when they fight each other because they both want it and we’ll find out who wants it the most. Me? I say all day long it is Tyson but we’ll find out when that first bell goes," he concluded.
What This Means for Boxing
The Fury-Joshua fight is arguably the biggest in British boxing history, with both men holding multiple world titles. A November date would come after a series of other heavyweight bouts, including those involving Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk, which could shape the division's landscape. The choice of venue—whether Wembley or a US arena—will significantly impact ticket sales, pay-per-view revenue, and the global broadcast experience.
As November approaches, fans and analysts alike will be watching for the official announcement from Alalshikh's camp. Until then, the boxing world holds its breath for what promises to be a defining moment in the careers of two modern greats.
