Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fast ‘approaching’ moment of collapse says insider as heated venue row continues

TYSON FURY and Anthony Joshua’s proposed Madison Square Garden melee is fast “approaching” collapse, an insider has admitted. The pair, 38 and 36 respectively, are tentatively slated to trade heavy leather at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’ this November. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are slated to fight at Madison Square Garden in November 20 Credit: GETTY But the fight is currently hanging in the balance Credit: GETTY But Joshua and his team are pushing back on The Big Apple bust-up as their contract for the fight states it MUST take place in the UK. Team AJ are, however, willing to forgo a domestic dust-up on UK soil if the terms of their initial contract are amended. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Negotiations between broadcasters Netflix, Turki Alalshikh, Saudi conglomerate Sela and Joshua’s team are still ongoing. But at this moment in time, they seem to be at an impasse, which Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith admits could scupper plans for the November 20 bout. He told ESBR: “Makes it difficult. I’m not going to put a date on it. “I think there’s so much of that in boxing, so much talk in boxing. “Let’s just focus, as I’ve said in other interviews, in a constructive manner to try and make it happen. We want the fight. “We’ve always wanted the fight. Hence why the fight was signed and announced four months ago. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua are willing for the fight to take place at MSG Credit: GETTY But Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith admit the November 20 date is on a knife edge Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK “It’s just the fact that details now people want it to change, and that’s a process. “I’m not going to put a date on it, but we’re fast approaching whatever that date is.” Netflix and Alalshikh were hoping to announce the clash of former heavyweight champions this week. And that prompted Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn to threaten to pull the plug on the fight. During an appearance on The Punch Podcast, he said: “The other day they wrote to us and said, ‘Just to let you know, we would like to announce the fight for New York.’ “And I said, ‘No, you can’t’. There might even be a situation where they go for it and do announce it. “And you will probably see me coming out quite quickly and say, ‘No fight’. “I promise you, if they announce that fight without an agreement in place to change the venue, there will be no fight and we ain’t bluffing.” “We feel really strongly that this fight should be in the UK.” The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Fury broke his silence on the saga on Friday, stating the fight is UNLIKELY to happen due to AJ and Hearn’s financial demands He said: “Quick update for yous: it doesn’t look like they’re going to sign the fight and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. “All because Eddie Hearn and that want more money. “They’ve already had that much money off Turki in the last few years, Eddie and AJ. “They’ve had boxing deals, they’ve had darts deals, they’ve had snooker deals, they’ve had everything. “And yet, they’ve got the audacity and cheek of flea-bitten rats to ask for more money from old Turki, that’s given yous everything [you] can find in the last couple of years. “I tell you what, you’re disgusting, money-thirsty, pieces of s***. “It is what it is. Same old cliche a decade later. “Keep running, you little cowards.” 1 comment1