Joshua, Fury fight hits stumbling block

The highly anticipated heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has encountered new complications, according to promoter Frank Warren. The so-called "Battle of Britain" is set to take place in November but a dispute over the venue has put the event in jeopardy. Initially, Wembley Stadium was considered the prime location, however, Madison Square Garden in New York has now emerged as the preferred choice.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is said to favor the American venue as it would reach a wider global audience. This development follows closely after Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn threatened to call off the fight altogether if organizers announced New York as the venue without securing an agreement to move the bout from the United Kingdom.

Hearn reiterated his commitment to staging the fight on home soil in line with their existing contract, warning that any unilateral announcement of a New York venue would result in the bout's cancellation. Despite Hearn's stance, Warren remains confident that the fight will still proceed, pointing out that Tyson Fury already signed up for the contest in January, even before it was rescheduled from its original September date.

The proposed date remains November, with the venue still to be finalised. Both camps are now at odds over the issue, with Hearn insisting Joshua's camp would prefer to avoid New York, while Warren maintains that Fury's contractual agreement supports the fight going ahead regardless of the venue.