Negotiations for a heavyweight fight between British boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have entered a critical week as organizers hold talks on staging the clash in New York.
The British rivals are set to share the ring later this year, but an official announcement has been delayed by discussions over the fight location, with Madison Square Garden in Manhattan emerging as a proposed venue.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Joshua, revealed that the original fight contract stipulated the bout would be staged in the UK. However, fresh negotiations are taking place amid growing optimism that the clash will be confirmed for later this year.
Madison Square Garden venue talks
Frank Smith, chief executive officer of Matchroom Boxing, told Sky Sports that while a fight outside the UK would disappoint fans, securing the bout remains the priority.
"It will disappointing for it not to be in the UK, but at the same time if it means seeing the fight that we all want to see that fight happen. Let's see how things play out,"
Smith said.
Smith explained that Joshua has boxed internationally before and that negotiators are currently adhering to the agreed terms from when the fight was signed in the spring.
"There's obviously been suggestions and discussions about New York. AJ has fought there before. AJ has fought all around the world. We're following the terms of what we signed up to right now, which is a fight in the UK. That is what we signed up to and when the fight was announced in March, April time, when the fight was signed, they were the terms we signed up for,"
Smith said.
The Matchroom executive confirmed that Madison Square Garden was proposed by external partners, including representatives from The Ring magazine and a Saudi delegation.
"They are the conversations really that are taking place right now. MSG is a proposed venue that they would like to look at, i.e The Ring Magazine, Saudi delegation, so let's see,"
Smith added.
Tight schedule for November target
A fight date in November or later in November remains possible, according to Smith, but negotiators face a tight timeframe to allow both boxers proper preparation.
Smith stated that progress must occur within the next seven to 10 days so each fighter can complete an eight-to-ten-week training camp away from promotional commitments.
"I think November is possible. Later in November is possible, but again the next seven to 10 days, a lot of progress has got to be made, in order to make that happen to get into camp to give yourself that eight to 10 week period, a dedicated camp away from all the promotional obligations. The pressure is on over the next week to get it done,"
Smith said.
Asked if the next week is critical, Smith added:
"I would say 100 per cent. It's never easy putting timeframes on things but when it comes to the date of it actually happening, the next week or so we need to get things together."
"We're all focused on making it happen,"
Smith said.
"We're all focused on getting the final details together but some work still to be done. Lots of discussions ongoing. Lots of conversations happening right now. I'm confident that the fight will happen. I'm very confident we will see that fight and AJ will knock out Tyson Fury this year."
Warm-up fights and social media teasers
Both fighters competed in warm-up bouts last month. Fury secured a seventh-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach during an untelevised contest in Thailand, with boxing reporter Dev Sahni later detailing how Fury defeated Wach. Joshua recovered from an early knockdown to knock out Kristian Prenga.
Fury hinted at an imminent announcement on social media, shortly after streaming service Netflix aired a promotional clip during its World Wrestling Entertainment coverage featuring the tagline "coming soon."
Speaking on his official Instagram account, Fury told fans:
"Everything is going well. I've got some big news going to be dropped very soon. All is good in the hood. Big fight on the horizon. It's the one you've all been waiting for about to be announced imminently, so stay tuned."
Heavyweight boxing background
Fury, known as "The Gypsy King," is a former WBC world heavyweight champion. Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medallist, is a former two-time unified world heavyweight champion who previously boxed at Madison Square Garden in 2019.
Matchroom Boxing, led by Hearn and Smith, is a prominent British promotional company. Sky Sports is the primary subscription television broadcaster for professional boxing in the UK.
