Fury confirms Joshua fight in USA

Tyson Fury has announced that his highly anticipated heavyweight bout with Anthony Joshua will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The former world heavyweight champion made the announcement on Instagram, posting a photo of himself alongside Joshua against the backdrop of the New York City skyline. Fury expressed excitement about the fight, stating, "What a place NYC, and what a venue MSG, and what a fight Fury vs AJ, the land of opportunity." He added, "What a weekend away for the lads on the piss in NYC. Iconic!"

The fight is expected to occur in November, with November 20 being the target date. Both fighters have signed contracts with Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Joshua initially insisted on the fight taking place in the United Kingdom, but after discussions with Alalshikh, his promoter Eddie Hearn began negotiations for a fight in America.

Hearn acknowledged that the team involved initially opposed the move but understood the necessity. However, he emphasized that they would address concerns such as tax implications, which could affect Joshua's net purse.

The announcement has drawn criticism from fans, who questioned why an all-British contest would be staged in America instead of at a venue like Wembley Stadium. Fury, who has won 36 of his 37 professional bouts, returned to the ring in July after a two-year hiatus, defeating Polish fighter Mariusz Wach. Joshua also won his tune-up bout on July 25 against Kristian Prenga. The Fury-Joshua fight had previously collapsed in 2021 when a U.S. judge ruled that Fury must face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout.