After protracted negotiations it appears that the all-British heavyweight superfight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will take place this year.
Fury and Joshua have been on a collision course for more than a decade at this point, with the pair having traded barbs publicly as far back as 2016.
The fight appeared set to come to fruition while both men held heavyweight gold in 2021 but an arbitration hearing ultimately scuppered plans as Fury was ordered to complete his trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
With both men entering the twilight of their respective careers talks have once again ramped up in 2026, with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh and UFC president Dana White playing a leading role in ironing out the details.
One of the most controversial elements of the current plan according to recent reports is to stage the fight stateside, with the historic Madison Square Garden arena in New York said to be the current frontrunner to host.
Another component of the deal that has raised eyebrows is the date.
Recent reports suggest that the fight will take place on the 20th of November, 2026, a Friday night in the US.
Why is Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua set to take place on a Friday?
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will reportedly meet on Friday 20 November in New York, likely meaning it will be the early hours of Saturday morning in the UK when the fighters actually make their way to the ring.
The move to hold the fight on a Friday represents a departure from convention in combat sports, with fights largely held on Saturday night in the United States and UK in the modern era.
However, Fury vs Joshua is set to be broadcast worldwide on Netflix and the streaming giant is said to favour staging the bout on a Friday.
The rationale behind the decision is reportedly to maximise engagement in the US and avoid potentially clashing with other sporting events such as the NFL which draws huge audience ratings stateside.
Anthony Joshua's clash with Jake Paul in December 2025 was also held on a Friday night, with the fight not getting underway until 04:35 for fans in the UK and Ireland.
That decision was presumably made to avoid the blockbuster attraction clashing with the NFL regular season clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders the following day.
While Saturday nights have become synonymous with boxing in the modern era, it hasn't always been the only home of the sport.
When Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met at Madison Square Garden for their vaunted 'Fight of the Century' in 1971, the bout took place on a Monday, while Ali's final professional bout against Trevor Berbick a decade later was held on a Friday.
