Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Could Be Held At Wembley Stadium

The highly anticipated all-British heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has a signed agreement, but finding the right time to ring the opening bell is turning into a major logistical puzzle.

Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, who is coordinating the fight, wants to bring the event to Wembley Stadium. However, he is determined to broadcast the bout at a time that accommodates prime-time viewers in the United States, meaning the main event could start as late as 4:00 AM GMT.

While British main events usually kick off between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM, Alalshikh is pushing boundaries to secure global television numbers.

"I tell you from the beginning, it depends if England give us all that we need," Alalshikh stated. "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]."

Wembley Stadium traditionally enforces a strict 11:00 PM curfew. To pull off an overnight schedule, organizers will need a special dispensation. Sources close to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have indicated that the late-night plan is "doable," though Alalshikh noted on social media that his team had initially been told it was not possible.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London emphasized that the city stands ready to back the event:

"London is the sporting capital of the world, and the Mayor is working to bring more of the world's biggest events to the city. London has staged some of the biggest boxing events in recent history at Wembley Stadium, with record crowds of over 90,000 attending heavyweight contests including Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte. Sadiq has made clear that London would be the perfect place to stage the long-awaited bout between Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury and the Mayor stands ready to support ambitions to bring the event to our capital as we build a better London for everyone."

Any formal adjustment to the curfew will require approval from Brent Council and the stadium's safety advisory group. Late-night sports events are not entirely unprecedented in the UK; major fights featuring Ricky Hatton in 2005 and Joe Calzaghe in 2006 both started at 2:00 AM in Manchester to appease American broadcasters, while UFC 304 ran its main card at 1:00 AM BST in 2024.

Despite rumors that the fight could be swept away to Las Vegas or the Middle East, those within Joshua's circle maintain that "The Landlord" prefers a UK venue. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn previously dismissed any talk of a US destination, confirming that the current signed contract mandates that the fight take place in the UK. Rumors regarding the involvement of Dana White and Zuffa Boxing circulated after Fury was spotted at a UFC event in America, but the immediate focus remains on securing a British stadium.

Before any official announcements can be locked in for the final quarter of the year, both fighters have to get through upcoming warm-up matches later this month. The 37-year-old former WBC champion, Tyson Fury, is scheduled to fight Poland's Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24th. The following day, two-time world champion Anthony Joshua, 36, will take on undefeated Albanian knockout artist Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.

Assuming both heavyweights avoid injuries or shock defeats, the final details for their historic autumn showdown can finally be settled.