Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are positioned for a long-delayed 2026 heavyweight showdown after both secured weekend victories. Following years of public hostility and delays, the two fighters have aligned their schedules for a potential unified bout.
But a dispute over the venue threatens to stall the momentum. While signed contracts previously mandated a UK location, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn noted organizers are now pushing to host the fight in America. This move forces a potential renegotiation of the original agreement.
Over in Saudi Arabia, Joshua survived two first-round knockdowns on Saturday to quickly knock out Kristian Prenga in the second round at the Jeddah Super dome. Joshua fought for the first time since surviving a December car crash in Nigeria that killed two members of his inner circle, securing a decisive knockout and prompting Hearn’s comments on the shifting fight contracts.
Fury stopped 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in the seventh round during an untelevised event in Thailand on Friday. Returning from a 15-month retirement following his 2024 defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury has now won two consecutive bouts. These weekend outcomes have intensified ongoing venue negotiations between Hearn and Saudi organizer Turki Alalshikh.
Before the push to move the fight across the Atlantic gained traction, Alalshikh recently proposed a 2 AM start time at Wembley Stadium to capture US television audiences. However, the shift to the United States directly conflicts with the signed UK agreement. The final location remains undecided as promoters work to finalize the host city.