​BBC Sport understands that a proposed heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could take place at Wembley Stadium, possibly in the early hours of the morning, as the all-British bout is organized. Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi powerbroker coordinating the event, indicated on Monday that he wants the fight to be staged in England while also catering to a global television audience. If the contest, which has been mooted for October or November this year, is timed to suit prime-time viewers in the United States, the main event might need to start as late as 04:00 GMT.
Sources close to London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have told BBC Sport that such a schedule is “doable,” but Alalshikh and other stakeholders involved in staging the fight have not yet established contact with the mayoral team. Wembley Stadium typically operates under an 11pm curfew. Once a formal request is made, the mayor would have to agree with Brent Council, the local authority, on whether dispensation to stage the bout can be granted. The council explained to BBC Sport that any curfew changes would have to be evaluated by the stadium’s safety advisory group, of which Brent Council is a partner.
BBC Sport has approached Alalshikh’s representatives for comment. He said on Monday that the plan hinges on England providing all necessary approvals: “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 the entire world, especially America. If they allow us to have Wembley late at 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].”
Alalshikh noted that scheduling a Britain-based event to align with American television markets is not unprecedented in combat sports. He pointed to UFC 304, held in Manchester in July 2024, where the main card did not begin until 01:00 BST, as a reference point for such arrangements.
Last month, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, dismissed speculation that the fight could be staged in the United States. He stressed that the current agreement, which all parties have signed, requires the bout to take place in the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Fury and Joshua are both due to return to the ring later this month ahead of a potential meeting later in the year. Fury, 37, is scheduled to face Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24, while Joshua, 36, will take on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia the following day.