Frank Warren has said he “of course” understands the frustrations of British boxing fans, with Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury seemingly heading to the US.
British stars Joshua and Fury are contracted to square off in a long-awaited heavyweight showdown later this year, which would arguably be the biggest domestic fight of all time.
The former world champions were both in action in July, with Fury stopping a 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in seven rounds, one day before Joshua climbed off the canvas twice in the first round to stop Kristian Prenga in round two.
It had been mooted that Joshua, 36, vs Fury, 37, could take place at London’s Wembley Stadium, although Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh claimed that ring walks would have to begin at 2am GMT. The US has since appeared to emerge as the frontrunner, with New York City’s Madison Square Garden putting in an offer, according to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
Now, Fury’s promoter Warren has told The Independent and other outlets: “I can’t comment on that at the moment, because it’s not for me to do it. We have our arrangement and promotional arrangement with Tyson, but it’s not for me to announce what’s gonna happen with that fight yet.”
However, the Queensberry boss did insist that it will take place in November.
And he did comment on British fans’ frustrations with Joshua vs Fury possibly taking place abroad, telling The Independent: “Look, I want a passionate audience. I want the guys there to be getting behind these fellas, because we’ve seen it.
“When brought Tyson back from America and he fought Dillian Whyte, that still holds the record for the biggest-grossing event – not just a boxing event – that they’ve had at Wembley Stadium,” he suggested. “[That’s for] a one-day event, over anything that’s taken place there.
“To be putting those types of fights on, in that atmosphere, is nothing but fantastic. When Daniel Dubois fought ‘AJ’ at Wembley, how good was that? How great was the atmosphere?
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“So of course, yeah. As a fan, I love it, and the British fans are the best. And we’re gonna make sure all these fights happen here.”
Yet the Queensberry Promotions boss was seemingly referring to potential fights involving other British heavyweights – like Moses Itauma, Dubois and Fabio Wardley.
Warren, 74, later told another reporter on the call: “Of course I do [understand fans’ frustrations]. But [Saudi company] Sela contacted Wembley, didn’t they, and asked them if they would push the time back. And as far as I understand, that’s not happened.”