The highly anticipated, all-British heavyweight mega-fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is still on track for late 2026, but the dream of hosting it at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium depends on a major scheduling compromise.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh confirmed this week that while he wants to bring the blockbuster showdown to England, Wembley will only host the event if local authorities approve an incredibly late-night start time—potentially as late as 4:00 AM local time.
The unusual requirement comes down to global television markets. To maximize pay-per-view revenue and cater to foreign subscribers, the main event needs to air during prime-time evening hours in the United States.
“We want the fight here in England, but we want the time zone of all the world, especially in America,” Alalshikh explained, noting that his team is preparing to hold talks with London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other local officials to see if the city will grant permission for a late-night extension.
If London officials refuse the late hours, the fight will likely be moved to Las Vegas or back to the Middle East.
However, television scheduling isn’t the only hurdle remaining. Both heavyweights must first survive high-stakes summer test matches. Tyson Fury travels to Thailand to face Mariusz Wach on July 24, while Anthony Joshua steps into the ring against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh just one day later on July 25.
If either fighter slips up and loses their upcoming summer bout, the entire multi-million dollar agreement for the historic winter clash could completely fall apart.