Tyson Fury's Manager Claims Anthony Joshua Fight is ‘Inching Closer’ With Three Venues in Running

As we inch closer to it, there have been agreements, announcements, venue changes, negotiations, and enough back-and-forth to make even the most patient boxing fan wonder whether the fight would ever actually happen.
Just when it appeared to be heading for the United States, the biggest British heavyweight fight in years could be moving back home.

Cardiff Emerges as a Serious Option for Fury vs. Joshua

Tyson Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, now believes that, despite the speculation surrounding the event, the long-awaited showdown is getting closer, with three venues still being considered and both November and December remaining on the table. More importantly, Brown says Fury has never wavered on his side of the equation.

“It’s inching closer and it looks like it could be the British Boxing Bonanza that we all hoped for taking place in Britain,” he told Sky Sports. He added, “Three venues are still under consideration with Cardiff and Wembley still in the running. It’s looking good, Tyson has been onboard with fighting AJ since the start and he will fight him anywhere.”

Interestingly, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff has emerged as a particularly interesting option for the fight. With an 80,000-capacity, the venue has already hosted Anthony Joshua twice, with the former heavyweight champion defeating Carlos Takam in 2017 before the former beating Joseph Parker by unanimous decision the following year. 

It also has one obvious advantage over Wembley: a retractable roof, given the fight was earlier expected to take place late in the year, potentially in November or December, while the broadcast plans were built around a start time designed to suit viewers in the U.S.

Timing Could Result in Issue for Wembley Stadium 

Wembley, meanwhile, has been complicated by its existing curfew restrictions. A start time around 2 a.m. would create an obvious problem for the London venue. Meanwhile, Cardiff is not exactly waiting reluctantly for the opportunity.

Local businesses have already spoken about the potential impact of the event, with the city's hospitality sector expecting huge crowds if Fury and Joshua finally make their way to the ring there.

For a fight of this magnitude, that atmosphere is part of the attraction. The "Gypsy King" and Joshua are arguably the two biggest British heavyweight names of their generation, finally meeting after years of failed attempts.

December Could Turn Fury vs. Joshua Into a Christmas Blockbuster

That said, there is still no official date, but Brown made it clear that December is the preferred option for Fury's camp, stating, "November and December are both in play, but we like December as an option; everyone would be winding up work for the holidays, it would be the best Christmas party in the world." 

For the unversed, the bout has repeatedly come close to happening, only for negotiations to hit another roadblock. Most recently, the dispute over where it should take place became the major sticking point, with UFC CEO Dana White adding fuel to the fire. 

Joshua's agreement with Saudi-backed promotion company Sela requires the fight to take place in the UK, while Fury's agreement has been structured around a US event. Netflix and Turki Alalshikh's plans have also been part of the equation, particularly with the American audience in mind.

Eddie Hearn, meanwhile, has continued pushing for the fight to remain on British soil. The Matchroom Boxing headhoncho added, “We continue to do everything we can to bring this fight to the UK. We are in constant communication with Netflix and SELA, keep your fingers crossed." 

While Brown remains confident, Hearn can push for the UK. For now, though, the signs are better than they have been in some time. And if Brown gets his wish, the year could end with Fury and Joshua finally sharing a ring on British soil, with an entire country watching.