Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has revealed that his long-awaited clash with British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua is set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Fury announced the proposed venue on Instagram, sharing a promotional image of himself and Joshua against the New York skyline, although he stopped short of revealing an official date for the bout.
“What a place NYC, and what a venue MSG, and what a fight Fury vs AJ, the land of opportunity,” Fury wrote.
He added: “What a weekend away for the lads on the piss in NYC. Iconic! Not long now guys.”
However, neither Joshua nor his promoter, Matchroom Boxing, has confirmed Fury’s announcement. Fury also did not tag either Joshua or the promotion in his post.
The highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown is widely expected to take place in November, with November 20 reportedly being considered as a possible date.
Both fighters have signed contracts with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which has been involved in efforts to bring the blockbuster bout to fruition.
A major issue during negotiations has been the proposed move to the United States. Joshua’s original agreement reportedly stipulated that the fight should take place in the United Kingdom.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn had previously said Joshua’s camp preferred a UK venue but would consider taking the fight elsewhere if the financial terms were attractive enough.
“We don’t want to do the fight in the US, but we also understand it has to work for everybody,” Hearn said.
Hearn had also raised concerns about US taxation, which could significantly affect Joshua’s earnings, but said the issue could be resolved through negotiations.
The proposed American venue has disappointed some fans who had hoped to see the long-awaited British heavyweight encounter staged at a major UK venue, particularly Wembley Stadium.
Fury, 38, has recorded 36 victories in his professional career, with his only defeats coming against Oleksandr Usyk in two consecutive fights in 2024.
He returned to action in July following a brief retirement after his second loss to Usyk, stopping Poland’s Mariusz Wach in a comeback fight in Pattaya, Thailand.
Joshua also won his most recent bout, defeating Kristian Prenga in a tune-up fight in Jeddah on July 25.
According to Hearn, Joshua’s victory helped create an opportunity for negotiations with Fury’s camp to progress.
The Fury-Joshua fight has been discussed for several years but repeatedly stalled for various reasons.
One of the biggest setbacks came in 2021, when a United States court ruled that Fury was contractually bound to face American heavyweight Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout.
With Fury now publicly naming Madison Square Garden as the proposed venue, attention will turn to confirmation from Joshua’s camp and the promoters, as well as the official date and final terms for one of boxing’s most anticipated heavyweight contests.
