Saudi Arabian officials are reportedly exploring SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as the potential venue for a November heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
According to officials briefed on conversations involving Turki Alalshikh, the financier behind Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), Los Angeles has emerged as a preferred destination for the all-British showdown. The move would bring two of boxing’s biggest stars to the United States for a fight long expected to be held in London or Riyadh.
The choice of SoFi Stadium, located in a suburb of Los Angeles, is largely driven by logistical security. As an indoor-outdoor facility featuring a translucent ETFE roof canopy, the stadium mitigates concerns regarding the inclement weather that often affects outdoor venues in the United Kingdom during the autumn and winter.
Turki Alalshikh has already established a presence in the local market, having previously brought a high-profile card to Los Angeles in August 2024, when Terence Crawford defeated Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium.
For Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs), the potential California date represents a return to a region where he has previously competed. The research indicates that Anthony Joshua has fought twice in the US, making him familiar with the American fight week atmosphere. While the Fury-Joshua bout is penciled in for November, both men must first navigate scheduled “warm-up” appearances during the summer months.
Summer hurdles for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua is currently slated to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Saudi Arabia. This bout serves as his first appearance since a December meeting with Jake Paul. Research notes that Joshua’s last fight was a sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul, though specifics beyond that result remain varied across different reports.
Maintaining focus is paramount for the former champion, who has previously had to dismiss external narratives regarding opponent injuries to keep his career on track.
Recent activity for the Gypsy King
Tyson Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) is also looking to stay active. He last fought in April, where he secured a comfortable victory against Arslanbek Makhmudov. Fury has indicated he may take a warm-up fight on August 1 in Dublin, Ireland, though his promoter, Frank Warren, has denied reports of a specific match against Nelson Hysa.
The “Gypsy King” claims to have already signed his contract for the Joshua fight, though conflicting reports suggest Joshua has yet to finalize his paperwork.
The personal rivalry between the two heavyweights remains sharp. Anthony Joshua has hit out at Tyson Fury for taking encouragement from Daniel Dubois’s recent performance against him.
While Fury has attempted to use other fighters’ successes as a blueprint, Joshua remains dismissive of the psychological games, stating that Fury is “just another number” on his pedestal. He even downplayed the magnitude of the clash, suggesting it cannot be the “only” defining fight of this era.
Overcoming adversity and heavy losses
The road to this November window has been marked by significant personal challenges for Anthony Joshua. Approximately four months prior to May 20, 2026, Joshua was involved in a serious car accident that killed two close friends.
This tragic event has cast a shadow over his recent training camps, yet the fighter has remained committed to his professional obligations. When asked about the incident, Fury offered a blunt perspective, noting that “we’ve all had problems — that’s life,” further highlighting the cold nature of their competitive relationship.
Tyson Fury is no stranger to the Los Angeles boxing scene himself. He famously fought Deontay Wilder to a draw at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in December 2018. Returning to the city at SoFi Stadium would place the heavyweights in a venue capable of expanding to 100,000 seats.
Such a capacity would rival the massive stadium shows usually reserved for Wembley in the UK, while offering the premium amenities of a modern NFL facility.
The involvement of the GEA suggests that the financial and promotional infrastructure is already in place to finalize the Los Angeles move. Promoter Eddie Hearn remains hopeful the deal will cross the finish line, despite public comments from UFC CEO Dana White regarding potential involvement in the promotion.
Hearn has refuted those claims, maintaining that the current team is best suited to deliver the record-breaking event. If successful, the November fight could serve as a precursor to even larger matchups, such as the historic bouts seen in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Technological marvels at SoFi Stadium
Should the deal be officially signed, fight fans will experience one of the most technologically advanced sports venues in existence. SoFi Stadium features the Oculus, a massive 2.2 million-pound 4K videoboard that spans 70,000 square feet.
This ensures that every fan in the building, whether in the general seating or the 260 luxury suites, has a clear view of the action. The venue has a lengthy resume of major events, spanning from Super Bowl LVI to WrestleMania, making it a proven environment for global broadcasts.
The preference for an NFL stadium in an area with widespread boxing interest aligns with Turki Alalshikh’s broader strategy. By placing the fight in Inglewood, the GEA can tap into the lucrative Southern California market while providing a neutral ground for the two British stars.
With eight FIFA World Cup matches scheduled for the venue in 2026 and the 2028 Olympic Opening Ceremony on the horizon, SoFi Stadium is rapidly becoming the center of the global sporting world.
For now, the boxing community remains in a holding pattern. The official announcement is reportedly imminent, pending the results of the July and August appearances for both men. If both heavyweights emerge victorious and healthy from their summer assignments, the path to a Southern California mega-fight in November will be clear, finally delivering the matchup boxing fans have been demanding for years.
