Joshua, Fury blockbuster fight tipped for USA

The long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is being targeted for November, with the United States emerging as a surprise potential venue alongside the United Kingdom, according to Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, PidomNigeria Sports Extra reports.

Hearn revealed that both countries are currently in active discussions as potential hosts for the all-British clash, with a final decision expected to rest with Saudi sports chief Turki Alalshikh, whose involvement has been central to getting the fight over the line.

“The UK and America are both in discussions right now. It’ll be down to Turki Alalshikh where that fight’s held, but we’re being told middle of November. Joshua’s got to get the job done against Prenga first,” Hearn said.

The inclusion of the United States as a potential venue has surprised many in boxing circles, with the prevailing expectation having been that the fight would either land in the UK or Saudi Arabia.

Wembley Stadium remains the sentimental favourite for a domestic audience, a ground where Joshua has headlined four pay-per-view events, while Fury has appeared there just once, stopping Dillian Whyte in six rounds in their 2022 WBC title fight.

Before any world stage showdown, however, both men have interim business to attend to. Joshua faces Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 25 on DAZN PPV, his first ring appearance following the tragic accident that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

The 36-year-old is coming off a sixth-round finish over Jake Paul in December, a win that followed his devastating fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

Prenga, a 35-year-old based in Englewood, New Jersey, with a record of 20 wins and one defeat, all 20 victories by knockout, has made clear he intends to be far more than a warm-up act.

“I’m going to spoil that fight,” Prenga told FightsATW, referring to the anticipated Joshua-Fury showdown. “Maybe Fury will fight me after I knock out Joshua? I’m going to shock the world.”

Fury, meanwhile, confirmed on Tuesday via Instagram that he will fight in Dublin on August 1 as a warm-up, with an opponent yet to be named.

His last outing came on April 11 when he defeated Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov on points at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 37-year-old has been out of world title contention since back-to-back points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, but remains one of the sport’s biggest names.

Joshua’s only two performances on American soil saw him stop Paul and suffer a shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019, while Fury contested all three of his encounters with Deontay Wilder in the United States.