Mike Tyson says Joshua-Fury heavyweight fight belongs on home soil

Mike Tyson has backed Britain as the venue for the proposed heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, rejecting the idea of staging the all-English contest in New York. The bout had been linked to Madison Square Garden on November 20, although its status has since become uncertain.

Tyson said the fight should take place in London or elsewhere in the United Kingdom because Joshua and Fury are both British. In his view, the domestic setting would better suit a contest widely regarded as a Battle of Britain, while also giving supporters the atmosphere associated with a major fight at home.

The former heavyweight champion acknowledged that he would not be able to attend in Britain because he is barred from entering the country. His criminal record includes a 1992 rape conviction, as well as convictions for assault, cocaine possession and driving under the influence.

Tyson argued that moving the fight to the United States would not necessarily create a stronger American audience. He pointed to the way British fans travelled to Las Vegas for his fights with Frank Bruno, saying a British audience would still fill an American venue if Joshua and Fury met there.

The proposed contest has faced fresh doubt after Fury said it did not appear likely to happen. The dispute has involved Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, with Fury accusing him and Joshua of being driven by money. Those comments followed the reported agreement linking the rivals to a November 20 date in New York.

Despite the uncertainty, Tyson believes both fighters still have enough ability to produce a significant contest if they regain the necessary motivation. His position is that the fight’s identity as an all-British heavyweight meeting should take precedence over overseas commercial opportunities, making the United Kingdom the more appropriate home.