Fury-Joshua fight location dispute delays contract signing

The proposed heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has hit a significant snag over the fight's location, with Fury publicly accusing Joshua of avoiding the matchup. The dispute centers on a revised agreement to move the event from England to Madison Square Garden in New York City, a change that has left Joshua's signature pending. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that Fury signed a contract for the fight in January, with the bout originally scheduled for September. However, the date was pushed back following a car accident in December 2025 that killed two of Joshua's close friends. The fight is now targeted for early November. Warren stated that Fury is committed regardless of venue, saying, "He's signed for it. One hundred per cent. We're just waiting for AJ." The conflict arose after the event's financial backers, including Saudi state-owned promotional company Sela and broadcast partner Netflix, insisted on moving the fight to New York to maximize American revenue. Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has maintained that the fight needs to take place in England, and the original agreement stipulated a UK venue.