Dublin’s Croke Park is positioning itself as the potential venue for the highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between former champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. The stadium’s chief executive expressed optimism about hosting the fight later this year, signaling momentum for what could be a landmark event in the sport.

Fury, 39, is set to return to the ring this Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, ending a 16-month hiatus with a bout against Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov. Prior to this comeback fight, Fury reaffirmed his desire to face Joshua before the close of 2026. The two British fighters have long sought to finalize a match often dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain,’ but negotiations have repeatedly stalled due to contractual disagreements, fitness concerns, and losses in other bouts.

Joshua, 36, has been recovering from a tragic car accident in December that resulted in the deaths of two close friends, which led to a pause in his boxing career. He has since resumed training and was in attendance at the recent high-profile match where Derek Chisora was defeated by Deontay Wilder. Despite his return to form, there are questions about whether Joshua will require a ‘warm-up’ bout before facing Fury, with Wilder named as a potential opponent by Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.

Croke Park, situated in Dublin and with a capacity of over 80,000, is one of Europe’s largest stadiums and is hoping to secure the fight. The venue chief, Peter McKenna, highlighted the possibility of featuring Irish boxing star Katie Taylor on the undercard, provided agreement from the relevant parties. Taylor, a celebrated figure in women's boxing, is reportedly nearing the end of her career, and hosting her fight alongside the Fury-Joshua bout would add significant local appeal.

McKenna noted that finalizing arrangements would require coordination among multiple managers and promoters but expressed confidence that the parties involved recognize the event’s importance. Meanwhile, Fury has emphasized the urgency of staging the fight sooner rather than later, citing the unpredictable nature of heavyweight boxing and the potential for injuries to upend plans yet again.

“This fight was supposed to happen many times over the last decade, but circumstances always got in the way,” Fury said. “I want it as the next fight, and I’m sure AJ feels the same.”

As both fighters prepare for what could be a defining moment in their careers, the search for a suitable venue and timing continues, with Croke Park emerging as a strong candidate for hosting this potential boxing spectacle.