Promoter Frank Warren has disclosed that the venue for the anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remains undecided, saying a meeting involving all parties must first take place before the location and date of the bout can be confirmed, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Warren, who co-promotes Fury alongside Saudi Arabian powerhouse Turki Alalshikh under his Queensberry Promotions banner, said he personally favours a United Kingdom setting for the all-British showdown but has not closed the door to the United States, with Las Vegas increasingly reported as the frontrunner.
“I’d love it to take place in the UK. But as I’ve tried to explain to everybody, until that meeting takes place I don’t think anything is going to be determined where it takes place or the date it takes place,” Warren said. “But whatever happens the fight is signed and it will happen. Because everyone wants it to happen.”
The bout, targeted for late November, would end years of failed negotiations between the two former heavyweight world champions. Fury (37) most recently returned from retirement to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov in April and is understood to have another fight lined up for August before the Joshua showdown.
Joshua (35), meanwhile, is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Saudi Arabia, a contest he must win to keep the Fury fight on course.
Speculation over the promotion structure intensified after Fury teased a “massive announcement” from Zuffa Boxing president Dana White, whose organisation is backed by Saudi funding and was established to rival the sport’s established promoters.
Fury subsequently confirmed he would be promoted by Alalshikh, though Warren moved to clarify his own continued involvement.
“My understanding is what his management said, and that is he is being promoted by Turki and by us. That’s how it is. I am very comfortable with that,” Warren said.
“All that is happening at the moment is our team is working on having an interim fight before he fights AJ in late November. Of course I’ll be a part of it. I am with him.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has repeatedly denied that Zuffa Boxing would play any role in the fight, insisting that Joshua’s contract stipulates the bout must be held in the United Kingdom. The conflicting positions from both camps have done little to settle the uncertainty over where the fight will eventually land.
Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua has invited Fury to attend his ringside for the Prenga fight in July, mirroring Fury’s presence when Joshua watched him beat Makhmudov in April.
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