For a fight that has apparently been “signed” for months, Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is doing a remarkable job of refusing to become straightforward.
The short answer is yes, the fight is still expected to happen in 2026. Both heavyweights have signed contracts, both won their summer warm-up fights and Tyson Fury is already back in training. The problem is that Joshua’s deal was for a fight in the UK, while the people behind the event now want to take it to New York.
That has created a row over money, tax, media commitments and, most importantly, whether Joshua has to accept a different venue from the one in his contract. So the fight is not off. It is not completely locked in either.
Friday 20 November 2026 is the date currently being targeted, with Madison Square Garden the leading venue. Until the remaining terms are agreed and an official announcement lands, British boxing has a few more nervous days ahead.
If you want the full story of how the pair finally reached this point after years of failed talks, our Fury vs Joshua Battle of Britain guide covers the rivalry from the beginning.
Is Fury vs Joshua Still Happening?
At the time of writing, yes. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua remains the intended fight for late 2026. There is an important distinction here, though.
The fighters have already agreed to face each other. What has not been finalised is the proposal to stage the contest in the United States rather than Britain.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says AJ signed a deal for the fight to take place in the UK. Saudi organisers and Netflix are now pushing for America, with Madison Square Garden in New York at the centre of the talks.
That means the argument is not really about whether Fury and Joshua want to fight.
It is about the terms required to move a signed British fight across the Atlantic.
Fury recently claimed the bout “doesn’t look like it’s going to happen” and accused Joshua’s side of asking for more money. Hearn has responded by insisting the contract remains in place and that the fight should happen if the existing agreement is honoured or acceptable new terms are reached. Classic boxing, really.
When Is Fury vs Joshua?
Friday 20 November 2026 is currently the date being targeted for Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
Fury has already started training in Miami with November 20 in mind, but it is not yet the same thing as a fully confirmed fight date. No final venue announcement has been made and the contractual issues still need resolving.
Hearn has also suggested continued delays could push the fight later, potentially into December, although his preference is to keep Joshua on the November schedule.
For now, November 20 is the date to circle. Just use pencil rather than permanent marker.
Where Will Fury vs Joshua Take Place?
This is the question causing almost everything else.
The original agreement on Joshua’s side was for Fury vs Joshua to take place in the UK. Wembley Stadium was the obvious dream venue for a fight sold for years as the Battle of Britain.
Instead, Madison Square Garden has emerged as the frontrunner.
New York brings huge commercial appeal. It gives Netflix a major event in American prime time, puts one of boxing’s biggest fights in one of its most famous arenas and opens the event to a larger US audience.
Frank Warren has said he would personally like the fight at Wembley, but now expects it to end up in America because of the money involved. That does not mean New York is confirmed.
It means the momentum has shifted heavily in that direction.
Why Does Anthony Joshua Want the Fight in the UK?
There is a simple answer and a more complicated one. The simple answer is that Joshua signed for a UK fight. The complicated part is money.
Hearn has said moving Joshua to America changes his tax position and brings extra travel and media commitments. Matchroom has therefore sent revised terms covering what AJ would need in order to accept the switch.
From Fury’s side, it looks like another delay to a fight boxing has spent the best part of a decade trying to make. From Joshua’s side, the response is basically: we signed for Britain, so you cannot simply move the event and pretend nothing else changes. Both arguments can be true at the same time.
Our Anthony Joshua odds page tracks AJ’s latest fight markets as the situation develops.
Why Do Netflix and the Organisers Want Fury vs Joshua in New York?
Because Fury vs Joshua has grown beyond being a British stadium fight.
Netflix holds the broadcast rights and an American venue offers a much friendlier prime-time slot for viewers in the United States. Madison Square Garden also carries obvious marketing value. BV’s original Fury-Joshua explainer confirmed Netflix’s involvement when the fight agreement was first announced. There is a strange irony to it.
For years, Fury vs Joshua was talked about as the ultimate British heavyweight night. Two former world champions. Two enormous UK fanbases. Wembley under the lights.
Now that the fight is finally close, the commercial value of the thing may be exactly what takes it away from Britain.
Could Fury vs Joshua Be Cancelled?
Yes, but “cancelled” is probably too strong a word for where things stand right now.
The fight is at risk if the two sides cannot agree amended terms for America and the original UK arrangement is not delivered.
The encouraging part is that the people directly involved still sound more confident than some of the headlines.
Hearn continues to say he expects the fight to happen. Warren has said he genuinely believes it will happen. Both fighters are available, both came through their warm-ups and Fury is already in camp.
There is no injury or mandatory challenger getting in the way this time. It is paperwork, venue and money.
Not ideal. But considerably more fixable than some of the problems that killed this fight in previous years.
Who Could Tyson Fury Fight If Anthony Joshua Pulls Out?
This is where the story became more interesting. Fury’s camp has made it clear that November 20 is not necessarily dependent on Joshua.
Shane Fury has said his brother plans to fight on that date even if the AJ deal falls apart, with a replacement opponent being discussed. Agit Kabayel has been mentioned as a possible alternative, although no backup opponent has been officially announced. That changes the pressure.
If Fury is willing to box at Madison Square Garden regardless, there is less chance of everyone simply shelving the date and trying again next year.
For Joshua, it creates a decision. Agree new terms for New York, push for the original UK contract to be honoured, or risk watching Fury take a different fight. For Fury, camp continues either way.
You can follow the latest markets around the Gypsy King on our Tyson Fury odds page.
What Happened in Fury and Joshua’s Warm-Up Fights?
At least one potential disaster has already been avoided. Fury and Joshua both fought in July with the showdown hanging over them.
Fury faced Mariusz Wach in Thailand on 24 July and won when Wach’s corner pulled him out after seven rounds. It was a fairly controlled night and moved Fury’s professional record to 36-2-1. Joshua’s fight 24 hours later was anything but controlled.
Kristian Prenga dropped AJ twice in the opening round in Jeddah. For a few minutes, the entire Fury fight looked as though it might disappear before negotiations even got this far.
Joshua recovered and stopped Prenga in the second round. Job done, technically.
It also gave everyone another reason to debate what happens when Joshua is hit clean by Fury, while Fury’s own age and recent defeats to Oleksandr Usyk leave questions on the other side.
Our heavyweight boxing rankings show where both men currently sit in a division that has changed considerably around them.
Will Fury vs Joshua Be on Netflix?
Yes. Netflix has the broadcast rights to Fury vs Joshua. What remains unclear is exactly what the UK schedule will look like because that depends on the venue.
A Wembley fight would naturally suit a British evening audience. New York is different.
If Madison Square Garden gets the event, UK fans should expect the main event in the early hours rather than a traditional 10pm or 11pm stadium slot. There is no confirmed ring-walk time yet, so anything more specific would be guesswork.
Once the venue is confirmed, we will know exactly how painful the alarm clock is going to be.
Fury vs Joshua Odds
The venue uncertainty does not change the basic matchup.
Fury brings size, reach and the awkward rhythm that has made him one of the hardest heavyweights of his generation to solve. Joshua remains the more explosive straight-puncher and showed against Prenga that even after a horrible opening round he still carries enough power to finish a fight suddenly. There are reasons to doubt both men.
Fury is 38 and has lost twice to Usyk. Joshua is 36, has four professional defeats and was dropped twice by Prenga in his latest appearance.
That arguably makes this version of Fury vs Joshua more interesting than the fantasy matchup people argued about five years ago.
For the latest fight-winner and other markets as they become available, check BetVictor’s boxing odds.
So, Is Fury vs Joshua Actually Going to Happen?
Probably. That is not the most satisfying answer after years of waiting, but it is the fairest one on 27 August 2026.
Both men have signed. Both completed their warm-up fights. Netflix is involved. November 20 is being targeted. Fury is in camp. Madison Square Garden appears to be the preferred venue among the organisers.
The remaining issue is getting Joshua’s side to agree terms for a move away from the UK deal he originally signed. Until that happens, Fury vs Joshua is still not fully confirmed.
There is also now a genuine fallback plan on Fury’s side, which makes the next few days important. If the New York terms are agreed, British boxing finally gets the fight it has spent years asking for, just not in Britain.
If they are not, Fury may still be walking into Madison Square Garden on November 20. There could simply be somebody else standing in the opposite corner.
Keep our boxing schedule 2026 bookmarked for the confirmed date, UK start time and broadcast details once the announcement finally lands.
