Hearn confirms Joshua vs. Fury will happen in the UK

Eddie Hearn has confirmed that the upcoming Joshua vs. Tyson Fury bout will take place in the UK, as included in the terms of the fight contract.  

Speaking to BoxingScene, Hearn dismissed suggestions that the heavyweight clash could be moved to the United States.

While venues in Las Vegas and Los Angeles were discussed during negotiations, he said the signed agreement specifically states that the fight must take place in Britain. Any move overseas would require changes to the existing contracts.

He said: “There has been some murmuring of the fight taking place in the US. The contract specifically states that the fight must take place in the UK.”

The fight, which is already touted as one of the greatest British fixtures of all time,  is expected to take place this November. 

Joshua and Fury have spent years circling each other without reaching an agreement, but both sides have now signed contracts following negotiations led by Turki Al-Sheikh.

Before meeting each other, both heavyweights are scheduled to return to the ring this summer. Joshua is set to face Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga on July 25, while Fury is expected to fight in Dublin on August 1. 

Both are expected to come through those contests before the long-awaited showdown takes place.

Several British venues are under consideration. Wembley Stadium remains the leading candidate, while other options have also been discussed. 

Hearn previously ruled out Dublin as a host city for the main event because of the planned November date and the challenges of staging a major outdoor fight during that period.

The bout is expected to be shown globally on Netflix, giving it one of the largest audiences ever for a boxing event. 

The two men are former heavyweight world champions and remain among the sport’s biggest draws despite spending much of the last decade on separate paths.

Confirmation that the fight must be held in the UK will come as welcome news for British boxing fans, who have waited years to see the two rivals share a ring.

What’s left to settle remains the venue, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks.