Fury v Joshua at Wembley Hinges on US-Friendly Start Time, Says Alalshikh

The proposed heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will only be staged at Wembley Stadium if local authorities sign off on a later-than-usual start time, according to Turki Alalshikh.

The Saudi powerbroker, who is coordinating the all-British contest, said he intends to hold discussions with the Mayor of London and other stakeholders in an effort to keep the fight in England while catering to a worldwide television audience.

England Must Meet the Conditions

Speaking on Monday, Alalshikh made clear that hosting the bout in England is his preference, but only under the right circumstances.

"I tell you from the beginning, it depends if England give us all that we need," he said. "We want the fight here in England, but we want the time zone of all the world, especially in America."

"If they allowed us to have Wembley late in the night, we want to do it in England. It is about the time and viewership," he added, confirming he would speak with the mayors and Prince Abdullah bin Khaled bin Sultan.

To align with prime-time audiences in the United States, the main event could potentially begin as late as 04:00 GMT.

A Precedent for Late-Night Cards

Scheduling a British combat sports event around the American market would not be unprecedented. When UFC 304 took place in Manchester in July 2024, the main card did not get under way until 01:00 BST, illustrating the lengths promoters will go to for global viewership.

Last month, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, played down suggestions the fight might move to the United States. He stated that the current agreement, signed by all parties, requires the bout to be held in the United Kingdom.

"We've got a great relationship with Turki Alalshikh," Hearn told BBC Sport. "If he comes to me and says 'I want to do the fight in America for this reason', we'll all be very disappointed because I don't think there's a person on the planet that doesn't think this fight should take place in the UK."

Hearn acknowledged the financial reality, however. "But he's paying the bill and the bill is extortionate, so you've got to find a way to make it work. If they want to change anything in the contract, we have to renegotiate the contract and start again."

Tune-Up Bouts Before the Big Night

Both fighters will return to the ring later this month ahead of their potential meeting later in the year.

Former WBC heavyweight champion Fury, 37, is set to face Poland's Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on 24 July. The following day, two-time heavyweight champion Joshua, 36, will take on Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With negotiations over venue and timing still to be settled, the fate of one of British boxing's most anticipated fixtures remains in the balance. Do you think fans should have to stay up until dawn to watch it unfold? Share this article and let us know your view.

Source: BBC Sport