Joshua-Fury mega-fight may move to New York in US, Hearn says

The proposed heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could be staged in New York, with Madison Square Garden viewed as the leading venue. Promoter Eddie Hearn said the event was increasingly being pushed towards the United States, despite an existing agreement for the bout to take place in Britain.

Joshua’s team had initially preferred to keep the contest in the UK. Hearn said that position had not changed at the moment, while Fury had accepted the possibility of fighting in America. The difference between the two camps has become central to negotiations over the event’s location.

Netflix and Turki Alalshikh are among those pressing for the fight to be held in the United States. Hearn said there had been no meaningful discussion about working with the UK government, London mayor Sadiq Khan or Transport for London to stage the contest domestically.

The promoter said discussions were focused on creating a route to amend the existing agreement. If the parties agree to the changes sought by Joshua’s side, Hearn believes there is a strong possibility that the fight will go ahead in America. He also made clear that his preference remains for the contract and venue country to stay unchanged.

The proposed bout has therefore not been confirmed for New York. Its location still depends on whether the contractual terms can be revised and accepted by the relevant parties. For now, the American option has gathered momentum while the UK plan remains the original arrangement.

Madison Square Garden has emerged as the frontrunner, but the venue has not been formally announced. Hearn described the continuing lack of movement on a British staging plan as disappointing, while indicating that negotiations had continued for about a month.