The blockbuster heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would need to take place at 2am if it is to be held at Wembley Stadium, according to reports from Wednesday's developments. The proposed timing aims to maximise the global audience, particularly in the United States, where a 2am UK start translates to a convenient 9pm ET on the East Coast and 6pm PT on the West Coast.
Turki Alalshikh, the influential Saudi Arabian figure who is organising the all-British bout, stated on Monday that he wants the fight to occur at a time that works for viewers worldwide. He intends to hold talks with the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, in a bid to obtain permission to host a late-night fight in the capital. Khan responded positively to Alalshikh's comments by saying he 'supported ambitions' to hold the fight in London, but did not explicitly address the possibility of a later start time. Alalshikh later posted on social media that he had so far been told a later start time was 'not possible'.
Local Authority and Curfew Hurdles
Brent Council, the local authority that would be involved in granting approval, has stated that an extension to Wembley's current 11pm curfew would need to be assessed by the stadium's safety advisory group, which the council is part of. The safety advisory group typically considers factors such as noise impact, crowd management, and public transport availability when evaluating late-night events. Wembley Stadium, with a capacity of 90,000, has hosted numerous colossal boxing events in the past, including Anthony Joshua&8217;s knockout win over Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury&8217;s victory over Dillian Whyte. However, those events adhered to the standard curfew, meaning the main event typically began no later than 10:30pm to allow for post-fight activities and orderly dispersal of fans.
A 2am start would break new ground for the iconic venue. It is not unprecedented in the sport&8217;s history &8211; some championship fights in Las Vegas have started well past midnight local time to cater to international pay-per-view windows. But for London, it would represent a significant shift in licensing and community relations. Residents near the stadium have previously voiced concerns over noise and late-night traffic, and any extension would likely require a temporary license variation and robust mitigation measures.
Background on the Heavyweights
Tyson Fury, the undefeated former world champion from Manchester, boasts a record of 34 wins (24 KOs) and 1 draw. He is best known for his 2015 upset victory over Wladimir Klitschko, where he outpointed the long-reigning champion to become the unified heavyweight king. Fury then faced personal battles with mental health and substance abuse before making a stunning comeback in 2018, culminating in a trilogy with Deontay Wilder. Their epic first fight ended in a draw, but Fury dominated the rematch by seventh-round stoppage and then knocked out Wilder in the 11th round of their third contest in October 2021. Fury also defeated Dillian Whyte by sixth-round stoppage in April 2022 at Wembley, drawing a record crowd of 94,000.
Anthony Joshua, from Watford, is a two-time unified heavyweight champion with a record of 28 wins (25 KOs) and 3 losses. He won Olympic gold at London 2012 and quickly rose through the professional ranks, capturing the IBF title by defeating Charles Martin in 2016. Joshua then unified the division with dramatic victories over Wladimir Klitschko (11th-round stoppage) in front of 90,000 at Wembley, and Joseph Parker (points decision). He lost his titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. in a stunning upset in June 2019, but avenged that defeat six months later with a unanimous decision. Joshua then lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian masterclass tactician, in 2021 and 2022. Since then, Joshua has rebuilt with three wins, most impressively a fifth-round knockout of former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and a dominant performance vs. Otto Wallin.
Implications of the 2am Start
If the fight is to take place at Wembley with a 2am start, it would represent a major concession by local authorities and a recognition of the massive economic and cultural impact the event would bring. The fight is expected to generate hundreds of millions in revenue, with ticket sales, merchandise, pay-per-view buys, and tourism for London. A delayed start would also affect broadcast schedules in the UK, where the average boxing fan is accustomed to main events around 10pm. However, Alalshikh has made it clear that the US market is a priority, as the fight would likely be a huge pay-per-view event on platforms like ESPN or DAZN in America.
The Mayor of London&8217;s office issued a statement on Tuesday saying: 'London is the sporting capital of the world, and the Mayor is working to bring more of the world&8217;s biggest events to the city. London has staged some of the biggest boxing events in recent history at Wembley Stadium, with record crowds of over 90,000 attending heavyweight contests including Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte. Sadiq has made clear that London would be the perfect place to stage the long-awaited bout between Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury and the Mayor stands ready to support ambitions to bring the event to our capital as we build a better London for everyone.' However, the statement stopped short of endorsing a 2am start. Alalshikh&8217;s subsequent tweet expressed frustration that a later start had been deemed not possible so far, but he remains hopeful that further talks can change that.
Warm-Up Fights and Potential Obstacles
Both former world champions are scheduled to compete in warm-up bouts later in July. Fury will face Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24, while Joshua will take on Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Saudi Arabia. These fights are seen as tune-ups to stay active and shake off any ring rust. A surprise defeat or injury for either man appears to be the only potential obstacle to their meeting going ahead as planned. Wach, a 6-foot-8 Polish veteran, has lost to the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin but is a durable opponent. Prenga, an Albanian who now fights out of Australia, is a 29-year-old with a record of 13 wins and 1 loss, but his opposition has been modest. Joshua and Fury are expected to win convincingly, and all eyes will then turn to the November date.
Historical Context: Late-Start Boxing Events in the UK
Late-start boxing events in the UK are rare but not unheard of. In 2019, the Anthony Joshua versus Andy Ruiz Jr. rematch in Saudi Arabia started around 11pm local time (which was 1am in the UK). However, that event was held in Diriyah, not in London. The biggest UK boxing events, such as Nigel Benn versus Chris Eubank, Lennox Lewis versus Frank Bruno, and more recently, Saunders versus Eubank Jr., all adhered to standard primetime hours. The only precedent for a very late start in the UK might be the 1990 fight between Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas, which took place in Tokyo but was broadcast live in the UK in the early hours. However, that was not a UK-hosted event.
If the Fury-Joshua fight gets the green light for a 2am start, it could set a new precedent for major sporting events in the UK, encouraging other promoters to seek similar late-night slots for international broadcasters. The economic argument is powerful: a single event could inject hundreds of millions into the local economy, support thousands of jobs, and enhance London&8217;s reputation as a global host. The main hurdles remain the noise curfew and public transport. The London Underground and buses run limited night services on certain lines, but a full 90,000-capacity event ending at 4am or 5am would require extensive planning for special transport arrangements, potentially including extra trains and shuttle buses.
Reactions and Next Steps
Boxing fans have reacted with mixed emotions on social media. Some are thrilled at the prospect of the fight finally happening, while others lament the late hour, which would make it difficult for families and casual fans to attend live. Hardcore fans, however, are likely to embrace the unique atmosphere of a midnight mega-fight under the Wembley arch. The venue itself has a history of hosting iconic moments, such as the 1966 World Cup final, the 2012 Olympic football matches, and the aforementioned boxing sell-outs.
Turki Alalshikh has signalled his determination to bring the event to London, but he has also hinted that alternative venues are being considered, including Saudi Arabia, where the time zone difference is less of an issue and where large-scale sporting events have become a hallmark. Alalshikh, who is the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, has been instrumental in bringing top-tier boxing to the Kingdom, including the 2019 Joshua-Ruiz rematch and the recent 'Day of Reckoning' card featuring Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder on separate fights. Saudi Arabia has constructed world-class venues and is eager to host the Fury-Joshua clash, but the fighters themselves have expressed a desire to fight in the UK, where they are most popular.
Talks with Mayor Sadiq Khan and Brent Council are expected to continue in the coming weeks. The outcome will likely determine if London retains the event or if it moves to another location. The next few months are critical for the two heavyweights, who must both win their warm-up fights and avoid injuries. After that, the focus will shift entirely to the negotiations over the venue and start time. Regardless of where it takes place, the Fury vs Joshua fight is shaping up to be one of the biggest in boxing history, bringing together two of the sport's biggest personalities and most accomplished champions.
Source: Sky Sports News