The proposed battle between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is being teed up to land in Britain in November, according to Eddie Hearn. America, however, could yet play host.
Contracts have finally been signed for the long-awaited showdown but there are still obstacles to clear. Joshua, 29-4 (26 KOs), must first defeat Kristian Prenga on July 25 and Fury, though nothing is yet finalised, is also hoping to have a fight in the interim. The former heavyweight champion, who returned to action in April with a lopsided 12-round points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov to take his record to 35-2-1 (24 KOs), had previously indicated he would appear on Queensberry’s August 1 event in Dublin.
Should both win their respective bouts they would set up a huge contest in November. The two Britons have teased their rivalry for nearly a decade.
Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi paymaster who persuaded both to at last put pen to paper, will have full control over where the contest takes place. Wembley Stadium would be the obvious pick considering the size of the event involving two Englishman, but Hearn revealed earlier this week that the US, due to Britain’s erratic climate, is also in play for the bout.
“Of course the UK is a front runner, but it is in November as well,” Hearn told BoxingScene. “And the fight will take place wherever Turki Alalshikh chooses for the fight to take place, he’s the one covering the bill so it’s up to him. We would all love the fight to take place in the UK. If it’s in America, no problem, but I think they’re the two likely countries.”
