Turki Alalshikh has confirmed that Anthony Joshua will fight Tyson Fury before the end of the year, though the venue for the all-British heavyweight showdown has not yet been decided.
Speaking in London on Monday, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) said his preference is to stage the fight in England, but that any deal depends on holding the bout late enough to reach the largest possible global audience, particularly in the United States.
"We will have Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury this year," Alalshikh said. "We haven't chosen the place yet. It depends on whether England gives us everything we need. We want to stage the fight in England but we want to make sure the time zone suits the whole world - especially in America."
"If they allow us to have Wembley, late in the night, we want to do it there. So, right now, it's about the time, viewership and subscribers. We will talk with the majors."
His comments suggest Wembley Stadium remains the preferred venue, but only if officials approve an unusually late start time that would let the fight air in prime time across the United States.
Licensing hurdles at Wembley
Such a start would likely mean another late night for British fans, with the main event potentially taking place in the early hours to satisfy international broadcasters and maximise subscribers on Netflix.
Under Brent Council's licensing conditions, major events at Wembley are generally expected to finish by around 11pm, with organisers required to follow agreed dispersal plans to limit disruption for local residents and transport networks.
Extending beyond those hours would likely require special approval from the local authority and could bring significant added costs, including extra staffing, policing, stewarding and transport arrangements.
Comments made at SELA event
Alalshikh made the remarks in London during the official inauguration of SELA International's headquarters, an event also attended by Prince Abdullah bin Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Joshua and Fury are expected to meet later this year, provided both come through their warm-up fights this summer, with fans still waiting to learn whether the fight will land at Wembley or elsewhere.
