The potential heavyweight boxing match between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could take place at Wembley Stadium in the early hours of the morning to suit international broadcast schedules. Saudi Arabian official Turki Alalshikh, who is overseeing the bout, expressed a desire for the fight to be held in England while also catering to a worldwide television audience.
If the contest, potentially scheduled for October or November, is timed for prime-time viewing in the United States, the main event might commence as late as 4:00 AM GMT. Sources close to London Mayor Sadiq Khan have indicated that such a proposal is feasible. However, Alalshikh and other involved parties have not yet formally approached the mayor's office. Wembley Stadium typically has a 11:00 PM curfew, and any request for an extension would require approval from Brent Council, the local authority, and the stadium's safety advisory group.
Alalshikh stated on Monday, "I tell you from the beginning, it depends if England give us all that we need. We want the fight here in England, but we want the time zone of all the world, especially in America. If they allow us to have Wembley late in the night, we want to do it in England. It is about the time and viewership. We will talk with the mayors and Prince Abdullah [bin Khaled bin Sultan]."
This scheduling consideration is not unprecedented for major combat sports events in Britain. UFC 304, held in Manchester in July 2024, commenced its main card at 1:00 AM BST to align with the American television market.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, representing Joshua, previously dismissed speculation that the fight might be held in the United States, emphasizing that the current agreement mandates the bout take place within the United Kingdom. Both Fury and Joshua are scheduled for preliminary fights later this month before a potential meeting later in the year. Fury is set to face Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24, while Joshua will fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia the following day.