Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 20, after plans to stage the heavyweight bout at Wembley Stadium fell through.
The long-awaited contest between the two British heavyweights is expected to be held without any world titles on the line, following negotiations involving streaming provider Netflix and Saudi Arabian organizers.
Fury, 36, a former WBC heavyweight champion known as the "Gypsy King," and Joshua, 34, a former two-time unified champion known as "AJ," have spent years as the dominant figures in British boxing. Organizers at London's 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium had given up on hosting the match weeks ago, opening the door for New York to secure the event.
Sports writer Jeff Powell criticized the selection of New York's historic arena, writing that British boxing supporters have been forgotten in the deal. Powell stated that dedicated fans who pushed for the fight for nearly two decades will now have to spend their savings to travel to the United States or stay awake into the early hours of a dank winter morning to watch the fight on television.
Powell compared taking the all-British fight to America to moving other traditional British sporting events overseas. He questioned whether future organizers would host the FA Cup final at Giants Stadium, the Wimbledon finals at Flushing Meadows, The Open golf championship across Manhattan streets, or the Ashes cricket series at Yankee Stadium.
Describing Madison Square Garden as a "nostalgic mausoleum" rather than a sentimental venue for two top British fighters, Powell warned against prioritizing corporate interest over heritage, stating that "we sell our history at our peril." He added that while fighters who put their lives on the line deserve to maximize their earnings, neither Fury nor Joshua is "short of a few bucks."
Delay and Usyk, Dubois Disruption
The fight between Fury and Joshua had been repeatedly delayed by stakeholders concerned that either boxer might suffer a defeat before facing the other. Powell noted that organizers feared one of the heavyweights would be "knocked off his perch of public admiration and corporate income."
That protective strategy was ultimately rendered meaningless by ring results. Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk defeated Joshua in back-to-back fights before overcoming Fury in Riyadh to become undisputed champion. British heavyweight Daniel Dubois also disrupted the division by knocking out Joshua, exposing the prolonged delays as pointless.
Despite the absence of championship belts, public fascination with the match remains strong. Powell criticized the financial influence of "Big Daddy Netflix and Uncle Saudi," but acknowledged that the scent of nostalgia in boxing continues to draw fans to witness the two domestic rivals collide.
British Fans Face New York Trip
Madison Square Garden, situated in Midtown Manhattan, has hosted legendary boxing events since the early 20th century. Hundreds or thousands of British fans are expected to travel to New York for what Powell described as a "last rite" for the two fighters, who missed their ideal moment in time. Powell concluded his column with a warning that "the British Croquet Association beware."
