Heavyweight boxing rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are locked in a dispute over the location of their highly anticipated fight, with Fury now questioning Joshua's patriotism. The disagreement centers on whether the bout should take place at London's Wembley Stadium or Madison Square Garden in New York City, a decision influenced by broadcaster Netflix.
Fury has publicly criticized Joshua, referencing a 2020 speech where Joshua read a letter urging attendees at a Black Lives Matter march to "abstain from spending your money in their shops and economies, and invest in black-owned businesses." Fury re-posted a video of the speech, captioning it with strong criticism of Joshua's perceived lack of patriotism and claiming he is using the fight location as an excuse to avoid facing him. Fury accused Joshua of being a "bully" and suggested he would "annihilate" him in the ring, regardless of the venue. "If I agreed to tie both hands behind my back and wear solid cement boots, Anthony Joshua would never get in the ring with me because I'll annihilate him," Fury stated.
Fury, who is reportedly a tax exile on the Isle of Man, also pointed to Joshua's reported move to Dubai earlier this year, further questioning his commitment to fighting in the UK. Fury expressed his own desire to fight in England, stating, "Prime time England, 10 o'clock, Wembley Stadium, 100,000 people. Why the f*** wouldn't I want it in England?"
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated that talks for Wembley have been reopened, suggesting a renewed push to host the fight in the UK. However, Netflix, who are a primary financial backer for the broadcast, are reportedly favoring Madison Square Garden to maximize revenue in the U.S. market.
According to Frank Warren, who co-promotes Fury, Fury signed his contract in January and is training in Miami for a potential early November fight. Warren noted that Joshua has not yet signed his contract. The original agreement reportedly stipulated a fight in England. Warren has previously warned that delays in securing Joshua's commitment could lead to the fight slipping away, emphasizing the importance of the bout happening over financial disputes.
Discussions around a potential Wembley fight include accommodating a late start time and curfew to suit the American television market. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed his willingness to host the fight and find a solution. Joshua would require a minimum two-month training camp for a fight of this magnitude.