Sadiq Khan Advocates for Fury-Joshua Fight at Wembley

Sadiq Khan has stepped directly into the battle for one of the biggest fights in British boxing history, urging promoters to bring Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua to Wembley Stadium and insisting London is “really keen” to host the long-awaited showdown.

The Mayor of London has thrown City Hall’s weight behind a Wembley blockbuster, even as powerful Saudi organisers and Netflix are understood to be pushing hard for Madison Square Garden in New York for a November date.

Khan confirmed he wants talks with the key players and does not intend to sit quietly on the sidelines.

“A message to the promoters – we want to host it in London. Talk to us, we’re really keen to have it,” he told BBC Sport on Thursday.

London vs New York

BBC Sport understands Saudi events company Sela has already contacted the mayor’s office in recent weeks about staging the fight at the national stadium. Initial contact has been made. The big push has not.

Despite that approach, sources close to discussions say talks over a London venue have stalled, with no serious negotiations yet over specific dates or timings. The momentum, for now, lies across the Atlantic.

Organisers, along with broadcaster Netflix, are thought to favour Madison Square Garden for a November bout, a move that would plant one of the great all-British clashes in the heart of Manhattan rather than under the arch at Wembley.

London, though, is not giving this up easily.

Curfew questions and late-night drama

Wembley’s usual curfew is 23:00, a long-standing constraint for major events. Khan has already signalled he would back efforts to bend that rule to accommodate a fight of this scale.

A late start in London – potentially in the early hours – would be designed with American television in mind, pushing the ring walks into prime time for the US audience and boosting global viewing figures.

Any extension is not straightforward. Brent Council, the local authority with oversight of the stadium, has made it clear that a later curfew would need to be assessed by Wembley’s safety advisory group. Public safety, transport, policing – all would be scrutinised.

How far that curfew could realistically be pushed back remains unresolved. It is one of the key practical questions hanging over a London bid.

“We, the fans, want to see them box live in London”

For Khan, the argument is emotional as much as logistical. Two British heavyweights, two former world champions, a rivalry that has simmered for years. His view is simple: this belongs on home soil.

“Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are two great British boxers. Both have been world champions,” he said.

“They both recognise and love the fans in this country who have supported them throughout their careers, amateur and professional.

“Wembley has hosted many fantastic events, including bouts involving Tyson and Anthony. We, the fans, want to see them box live in London.”

Wembley has already staged some of the defining nights in both men’s careers. Joshua has made the stadium his stage, from his epic win over Wladimir Klitschko to other title defences. Fury has felt the roar there too. The symbolism is obvious: the national stadium, the national heavyweight fight.

Decision time approaching

Behind the scenes, the clock is ticking. There is hope that a venue will be locked in within days rather than weeks.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said he wants an announcement this week, with a news conference to follow next week. That timeline piles pressure on both camps – and on any London bid – to firm up their positions quickly.

BBC Sport has contacted Sela for comment, but for now, the public noise is coming from City Hall, not from the organisers.

London has made its play. New York is waiting. The fighters want clarity, the promoters want maximum revenue, the fans want a night they will never forget.

Where will boxing’s biggest all-British fight of the modern era actually land?