The heavyweight boxing match between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is set to occur at Wembley Stadium later this month, contingent upon local authorities agreeing to a later start time. Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi powerbroker orchestrating the event, emphasized the importance of accommodating a global television audience, particularly in the United States.
Alalshikh stated on Monday, "I tell you from the beginning, it depends if England give us all that we need. We want the fight here in England, but we want the time zone of all the world, especially in America." If approved, the main event could start as late as 04:00 GMT to suit American viewers.
Negotiations for Optimal Fight Timing
The discussions with local officials will focus on achieving a start time that aligns with prime-time viewing in the U.S. This strategy is not new; UFC 304 in July 2024 was scheduled around U.S. audiences, beginning at 01:00 BST.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, recently dismissed rumors of staging the fight in the U.S. He confirmed the existing agreement mandates that the bout must be held in the United Kingdom. Hearn remarked, "We’ve got a great relationship with Turki Alalshikh. 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."
