“Joshua-Fury almost certain to land in the U.S., with Madison Square Garden the frontrunner. Netflix, which has steered this, has targeted a few Friday night dates,” Chris Mannix wrote on X after speaking with sources familiar with the discussions.

If finalized, the move would shift one of British boxing’s biggest rivalries to American soil. Both former heavyweight champions built their careers before massive crowds in the United Kingdom, where Wembley Stadium long seemed the natural destination. Television scheduling and Netflix’s preference for a U.S. prime-time broadcast have instead pushed Madison Square Garden to the front of the discussions.

It is a brutal situation for UK fans who spent years supporting both fighters, filling stadium after stadium to build them into the mega-stars they are today. Wanting that homegrown payoff at Wembley is about the principle of a British super-fight belonging on British soil.

From a fan’s perspective, feeling like an afterthought to American prime-time broadcast slots and massive streaming offers is a huge slap in the face. It shows how the business side of modern boxing can completely hijack the emotional heart of the sport.

At the same time, the reality of high-level boxing is almost purely transactional. Money and global reach speak loudest, especially when platforms like Netflix get involved to maximize Western prime-time viewership. While the public outcry has been loud, history shows promoter networks and streaming executives rarely change course once the financial mechanics are set in motion.

For the networks, it makes sense why they would want to stage the Joshua-Fury fight in New York. Madison Square Garden has hosted championship fights involving Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, making it one of boxing’s most celebrated venues. Bringing Joshua and Fury there would give Netflix a centerpiece event in one of the sport’s most historic arenas while expanding its reach in the American market.