Anthony Joshua’s highly anticipated heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury is expected to take place in the United Kingdom, although the exact venue remains undecided, with Wembley Stadium yet to be officially secured. The fight, scheduled for November, carries a contractual requirement from Joshua’s side that the bout occur on British soil. However, Saudi Arabian sponsors involved in the event are reportedly considering alternative locations, including the United States, to extend the fight’s global reach via the streaming platform Netflix. A potential consequence of staging the event abroad or overseas broadcast times would be a late-night start in the UK, possibly between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., to maximize international audiences.
Joshua, 36, who hails from Watford and has dubbed himself “the landlord of the heavyweight division,” remains hopeful that British fans will enjoy home advantage when he faces Fury. Speaking ahead of his bout against Albanian contender Kristian Prenga, Joshua emphasized his belief that the fight will take place in England. “I think there’s too much pressure on it to be in England for it not to happen,” he said, while acknowledging he does not control the event logistics or timing.
Staging a major event with an expected attendance of around 100,000 fans at a late hour presents logistical challenges. Authorities would need to manage public transport and coordinate security efforts, particularly with Premier League and Championship football matches involving London-based teams scheduled for the same weekend.
Joshua’s opponent for his next fight, Kristian Prenga, who holds a record of 20 wins and one loss, is based in the United States and has trained there since 2022. The 35-year-old Albanian is eager to spoil Joshua’s path toward the Fury showdown and plans to bring a vocal contingent of supporters to the Jeddah Super Dome, where their fight is set to take place. Known for producing his own wine, Prenga joked about celebrating a potential upset with a bottle of his homemade red, though he admitted he does not drink.
Prenga remains focused on his training regimen and appears undistracted by the looming high-profile bout. He also addressed Joshua’s confidence regarding the subsequent Fury fight, cautioning against counting outcomes in advance. “Maybe somebody doesn’t know boxing. I don’t care what he says,” Prenga commented. “He makes a plan to fight with Fury—but first he needs to win against me.”
Joshua is aiming to redeem himself following two recent defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah, which cost him the unified heavyweight titles and delayed the long-awaited contest against Fury. Both Joshua and Fury have now signed contracts for their matchup, which boxing enthusiasts hope will finally settle the rivalry between the two British heavyweights.