Fury vs. Joshua Fight Could Be Held at Wembley Stadium
L'essentiel
- The highly anticipated fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua may take place at Wembley Stadium in London.
- Saudi official Turki Alalshikh wants the bout staged in England but timed for a global audience, potentially starting as late as 4 AM GMT to accommodate US viewers.
- This would require dispensation from Wembley's usual 11 PM curfew.
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
A proposed heavyweight boxing match between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is being considered for Wembley Stadium. The key challenge is accommodating a global television audience, particularly in the USA, which might necessitate a very late start time.
The proposed heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could be held at Wembley Stadium in the early hours of the morning, BBC Sport understands.
Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, who is coordinating the all-British bout, said on Monday he wants the fight staged in England while also accommodating a global television audience.
If the contest - mooted for October or November this year - is timed to suit prime-time viewers in the USA, the main event might have to start as late as 04:00 GMT.
Sources close to London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have told BBC Sport such a proposal is "doable", but Alalshikh and other stakeholders involved in staging the fight have not yet been in contact.
Wembley Stadium usually has a curfew of 11pm. Once a formal request is made, the mayor would need to agree with Brent Council - the local authority - whether dispensation can be granted to stage the fight.
"Any changes to [the curfew] would have to be assessed by the stadium's safety advisory group of which Brent Council is a partner," the council told BBC Sport.
BBC Sport has contacted representatives of Alalshikh for comment.
"I tell you from the beginning, it depends if England give us all that we need," Alalshikh said on Monday.
"We want the fight here in England, but we want the time zone of all the world, especially in America.
"If they allow us to have Wembley late in the night, we want to do it in England. It is about the time and viewership.
"We will talk with the mayors and Prince Abdullah [bin Khaled bin Sultan]."
It would not be the first combat sports event in Britain to be scheduled around the American television market.
Ricky Hatton's fight against Kostya Tszyu in June 2005 at Manchester Arena began at 02:00 to cater for American audiences, as did Joe Calzaghe's bout against Jeff Lacy in March 2006 at the same venue.
When UFC 304 was held in Manchester in July 2024, the main card did not begin until 01:00 BST.
Last month, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, dismissed speculation the fight could be staged in the US. Hearn said the current agreement, signed by all parties, states the bout must take place in the United Kingdom.
Fury and Joshua are both set to return to the ring later this month before a potential meeting later in the year.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Fury, 37, will face Poland's Mariusz Wach in Thailand on 24 July, while two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua, 36, takes on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia the following day.
Questions ouvertes
- Will Wembley's curfew be extended?
- Will local authorities grant dispensation?
- What are the exact broadcast agreements?
