A significant contractual discrepancy has emerged between heavyweight stars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, potentially complicating the location of their highly anticipated 2026 superfight. While Anthony Joshua’s contract explicitly mandates the bout take place in the United Kingdom, the agreement signed by Tyson Fury contains no such venue restriction.
Eddie Hearn, the Matchroom Boxing chairman and Joshua’s promoter, confirmed the details to BoxingScene on Friday, June 19, 2026, during an event in Phoenix. This mismatch in legal terms means that while financiers could theoretically look to host the event abroad, doing so would require fresh negotiations to alter Joshua’s existing terms.
The Fury-Joshua bout is penciled in for late 2026, with organizers currently eyeing a Saturday in November, though a shift to December is considered increasingly likely. Before the two can meet in the fourth quarter of 2026, both heavyweights must first navigate summer tune-up fights. Anthony Joshua is set to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Saudi Arabia, while Tyson Fury will travel to Dublin, Ireland, on August 1 to meet an unconfirmed opponent.
Eddie Hearn highlights Anthony Joshua UK venue mandate
The legal roadblock centers on the “U.K. lock” found only in one side of the paperwork. Eddie Hearn explained that Joshua’s team remained firm on a domestic setting during their negotiations. The promoter admitted he was not privy to the specific language in Fury’s deal but was certain regarding his own fighter’s stipulations.
“I don’t know what Fury’s contract says about the venue,” Hearn told BoxingScene. “I just know what ours says: That, exclusively, the fight must take place in the U.K.” This creates a hurdle for Turki Alalshikh, the General Entertainment Authority chairman who is funding the event. If Alalshikh wishes to move the fight to an international site, he cannot do so unilaterally under the current agreement.
Hearn noted that such a move would require a “sensible conversation” and a formal renegotiation of Joshua’s contract. While Anthony Joshua has dismissed injury concerns in the past to stay on schedule, the venue remains a point of legal necessity rather than just preference.
Potential international sites vs British stadiums
If the parties agree to move the contest away from the United Kingdom, several global venues have already been floated. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is currently regarded as a frontrunner for an international host. Other options include SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which is slated to host the Super Bowl in 2027, or locations within the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia.
Should the fight remain in Britain as Joshua’s contract demands, Wembley Stadium is considered the most likely host. Other domestic options include the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The choice of venue carries significant weight for the promoters, particularly regarding broadcast logistics and the British evening time slot.
Exclusion of Dana White and Zuffa Boxing involvement
Recent reports have also confirmed a specific promotional ban within the contracts for both fighters. Despite Turki Alalshikh owning a 60% stake in Zuffa Boxing, both Fury and Joshua have included clauses that bar UFC President Dana White and Zuffa from any promotional role in the event.
“Specifically in the contract it says Dana White, Zuffa cannot have any promotional involvement in the show,” Hearn stated. Promotional duties are strictly reserved for Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. This remains the case even if the fight eventually moves to a venue like Las Vegas, where White’s influence is traditionally high.
The broadcast landscape is also shifting. Frank Warren has indicated that Netflix is a likely candidate to stream the event globally. However, Warren pointed out that if the fight occurs in the UK and streams on Netflix, it could create issues with the exclusive deals Matchroom and Queensberry hold with DAZN for domestic shows.
Projected earnings and purse split details
Financial projections for the clash remain massive, with both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury expected to earn approximately $100 million (£75m–£100m+) each for the single showdown. These figures are supported by the financial backing of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, which is bankrolling both the primary bout and the upcoming summer tune-ups.
The purse structure follows a previous agreement from September 2022, where Fury offered Joshua a 60-40 split in Fury’s favor. Hearn previously confirmed that Joshua had accepted those terms, provided the split is reversed in the event of a rematch. As fans wait for more major fight updates this summer, the focus remains on the July and August dates.
If both champions win their summer bouts, the final quarter of 2026 will serve as the backdrop for the most significant heavyweight encounter in years. Whether that happens at Wembley or in Las Vegas will depend entirely on whether Turki Alalshikh and Eddie Hearn can reach a new agreement to move past the current U.K. venue mandate.
