Joshua-Fury fight venue battle intensifies as Sadiq Khan pushes Wembley while organisers reportedly favour New York’s Madison Square Garden

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has intensified the push to bring the proposed Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua heavyweight fight to Wembley Stadium in London, as a reported venue battle with New York’s Madison Square Garden continues ahead of the expected November bout.

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Khan made the appeal on Thursday, September 3, 2026, urging the promoters of the long-awaited Joshua-Fury fight to engage with London authorities over the possibility of staging the contest at Wembley.

“A message to the promoters: We want to host it in London. Talk to us; we are really keen to have it,” Khan told BBC Sport.

The mayor said Wembley had already provided the setting for major sporting occasions involving both British heavyweights and argued that their proposed meeting should take place in front of a home crowd.

“Wembley has hosted many fantastic events, including bouts involving Tyson and Anthony. We, the fans, want to see them box live in London,” Khan said.

The intervention comes as New York emerges as a competing destination for one of the most anticipated heavyweight contests in British boxing.

Organisers and broadcaster Netflix are reportedly favouring Madison Square Garden in New York for the proposed November fight, according to reports cited by BBC Sport.

The preference would give the event an international setting and potentially place the two British stars before a major American audience.

London, however, remains keen to secure the contest, with Wembley offering a strong symbolic backdrop for a fight involving two of Britain’s most recognisable heavyweight boxers.

The proposed bout has generated enormous interest because Fury and Joshua have spent much of their careers near the top of the heavyweight division without meeting each other in the professional ring.

Both fighters have previously held world heavyweight titles, although their careers have followed different paths and each has experienced significant setbacks.

Fury’s long rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk has shaped much of his recent career, while Joshua has rebuilt his position following defeats and subsequent victories as he continues to pursue another major heavyweight opportunity.

A meeting between Fury and Joshua would therefore carry both sporting and commercial significance, bringing together two fighters whose names have dominated British heavyweight boxing for more than a decade.

Despite London’s public push, negotiations over Wembley are reportedly yet to reach a concrete stage.

Sources close to the discussions told BBC Sport that talks over a London venue had stalled, with no firm discussions on dates or scheduling currently in place.

The venue decision is expected to be made soon, however, as Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn continues to push for an announcement.

A press conference is also reportedly scheduled for next week, adding to expectations that greater clarity over the fight’s location and arrangements could emerge shortly.

For Khan, the appeal is about more than securing another major sporting event for the capital. A Joshua-Fury contest at Wembley would bring together two of Britain’s biggest boxing names in a venue already closely associated with major fights and national sporting occasions.

For the organisers, the choice between Wembley and Madison Square Garden is likely to involve a careful balance of commercial opportunities, broadcast considerations, logistics and the global appeal of the event.

The final decision will determine whether British boxing fans get to witness the blockbuster on home soil or whether New York claims the opportunity to host one of the sport’s biggest potential attractions.

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For now, the battle over the venue continues, with Wembley making its case publicly while New York remains a strong contender behind the scenes.