Sadiq Khan Pushes for Fury-Joshua Fight at Wembley

Sadiq Khan has stepped directly into boxing’s biggest negotiating table, throwing the weight of London behind the proposed Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua blockbuster and making it clear: he wants it at Wembley, not Madison Square Garden.

The Mayor confirmed he is “really keen” to host the all-British mega-fight at the national stadium and has publicly urged the promoters to pick up the phone.

“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, underlining City Hall’s stance as talks over the venue stall.

Behind the scenes, Saudi events giant Sela, who are driving the project, have already contacted the mayor’s office in recent weeks to explore the possibility of staging the bout at Wembley. The interest is there. The political will is there. The logistics, though, are another matter.

While London pushes its case, the powerbrokers circling the fight are understood to favour New York’s Madison Square Garden for a November date, with broadcaster Netflix also leaning towards the iconic Manhattan arena. Sources close to the discussions say that, as a result, conversations around a London staging have yet to move into detailed territory. No firm dates. No agreed timings. No breakthrough.

The timing issue is crucial. Wembley’s standard curfew is 23:00, a hard stop that has shaped countless concerts and sporting events. Khan has already indicated he would back efforts to bend that rule for Fury-Joshua, opening the door to a late-night start in the capital.

That is not just a cosmetic tweak. A ring walk in the early hours of the morning UK time would land in prime time in the United States, delivering the kind of television audience that has long dictated where the sport’s biggest nights take place.

Any extension, though, is not in the mayor’s gift alone. Brent Council, the local authority that ultimately signs off on such events, has made it clear that pushing the curfew back would need to go through Wembley’s safety advisory group. That process would assess crowd management, transport, policing and noise before any extra minutes are granted. For now, no-one knows exactly how late the stadium could run.

What is not in doubt is the sense of occasion if it lands in London. Two British heavyweights, both former world champions, both forged in UK arenas, finally sharing a ring on home soil.

“Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are two great British boxers. Both have been world champions,” Khan 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 last line cuts to the heart of the matter. This is not just about city pride or tourism numbers. It is about giving a domestic fanbase, which has followed both men from small halls to sold-out stadiums, the chance to witness what many see as the defining British heavyweight fight of this era in their own backyard.

The clock, though, is ticking. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, has said he wants the venue locked in and an announcement made this week, with a full news conference to follow next week. That kind of timeline suggests negotiations are reaching the sharp end, even if London is still waiting for the level of engagement it craves.

Sela, the Saudi organisers at the centre of the project, have been contacted for comment by BBC Sport, but have yet to publicly set out their position on the venue debate.

So the contest before the contest continues. Madison Square Garden, steeped in heavyweight history, on one side of the scales. Wembley Stadium, the modern colossus and home of English sport, on the other.

If this long-awaited fight finally gets over the line, the next punch to land might not come from Fury or Joshua – it could be the knockout blow in the battle between New York and London for boxing’s biggest night.