Anthony Joshua's promoter has revealed he expects the long-awaited British showdown with Tyson Fury to be officially announced this month, although the venue remains a point of contention.
The long-awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is expected to be finalized by the end of August 2026, Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, confirmed to Sky Sports News. Although New York has emerged as the most likely venue, with Madison Square Garden as the expected host, Hearn and his fighter continue to strongly advocate for this, as he calls it, "the biggest fight in British boxing history" to take place in the United Kingdom.
Hearn is optimistic that everything will be ready for November 2026, regardless of the final venue. "By the end of August, there will be a press conference," Hearn said. "I'm not going to sit here and tell you there's no chance the fight happens in America because things can change. But I truly believe this is something that should happen in the UK, and we'll do everything we can."
Joshua, according to his promoter, feels a sense of responsibility to British fans. "We're fighting against it - it seems like everyone else has agreed, except Anthony Joshua. He feels a bit of responsibility to British fight fans and is doing everything he can to give them what they want," Hearn added.
Hearn admitted he understands the business logic behind potentially moving the fight to the US, but also revealed his tactic. "We'll try to make this fight as financially unviable as possible in the US, so hopefully they'll just turn around and say, 'okay, let's do it in the UK,'" he stated.
However, he is aware of New York's appeal as a global stage, although he doesn't consider it crucial. "Obviously [New York] is the entertainment capital of the world. Who cares? These are two Brits and the biggest fight in British boxing history. But I understand the business," Hearn concluded.
Despite speculation that a change of venue could delay the fight, Hearn is clear: "We're ready for November - so there's no reason for this fight to be postponed."
While the boxing world eagerly awaits confirmation of the mega-fight, combat sports fans can watch the IBF world middleweight title fight this Saturday. Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha will face off in Dublin, with coverage provided by Sky Sports.
