The biggest all-British heavyweight fight of a generation may yet land under the Wembley arch – if Sadiq Khan gets his way.
London’s mayor has gone public with his ambition to stage the proposed Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua showdown at the national stadium, urging promoters to pick up the phone as the tug-of-war over the venue intensifies.
“A message to the promoters – we want to host it in London. Talk to us, we're really keen to have it,” Khan told BBC Sport on Thursday, laying down a clear marker in a race that currently has New York’s Madison Square Garden in front.
London vs New York
BBC Sport understands Saudi organisers Sela have already sounded out the mayor’s office in recent weeks about bringing the long-awaited fight to Wembley. That contact has not yet turned into detailed negotiations, with no firm discussions over dates or timings.
Behind the scenes, the momentum sits elsewhere. Organisers and broadcaster Netflix are understood to favour Madison Square Garden for a November bout, a choice that would place the fight in the heart of Manhattan and on prime time for the American market.
London, though, refuses to step aside quietly.
Khan has repeatedly backed the idea of a capital showdown between the two former world champions and believes Wembley can still wrestle the event away from New York, especially with the global profile of both fighters and the history they share with the stadium.
Curfew questions, global audience
One of the key hurdles is the clock.
Wembley’s standard curfew is 23:00, a restriction that looms large over any attempt to time the main event for maximum US television audiences. To mirror a prime-time slot in the States, ring walks in London could need to take place in the early hours.
Khan has previously indicated he would support efforts to make a late-night start possible. Any extension, though, would not be his decision alone. Brent Council, the local authority, has made it clear that a curfew change would have to be weighed by Wembley’s safety advisory group.
How far that curfew can be pushed back remains unresolved. It is a technical detail, but one that could shape where the first bell rings.
“We, the fans, want to see them box live in London”
For Khan, the argument is emotional as much as logistical.
“Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are two great British boxers. Both have been world champions,” he said. “They both recognise and love the fans in this country who have supported them throughout their careers, amateur and professional.
“Wembley has hosted many fantastic events, including bouts involving Tyson and Anthony. We, the fans, want to see them box live in London.”
That history is not trivial. Both men have had defining nights at Wembley, and a Fury-Joshua clash there would sit alongside some of the stadium’s most storied occasions. It would also keep one of the sport’s marquee events on British soil at a time when Saudi Arabia and the United States are hoovering up the biggest nights.
Decision time looming
Time is tightening.
There is optimism in some quarters that the venue will be locked in within days. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said he wants an announcement this week, with a news conference pencilled in for next week once the location is signed off.
Sela have been contacted by BBC Sport for comment, but for now the picture is clear: New York has the inside track, London is making noise, and the heavyweight world waits to see whether Fury and Joshua will touch gloves under the lights of Madison Square Garden or beneath the Wembley arch.
