LONDON — Plans for a heavyweight boxing match between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium are stalled, Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh said on Monday. Alalshikh stated that he has been informed a late-night start at the venue is "not possible."

The proposed fight is scheduled for October or November 2026. Alalshikh, who is coordinating the bout, noted that a binding contract requires the event to be held in the United Kingdom. Wembley Stadium typically enforces an 11 p.m. curfew.

"I tell you from the beginning, it depends if England give us all that we need," Alalshikh said. He added, "We want the fight here in England, but we want the time zone of all the world, especially in America."

A late start aims to cater to prime-time viewers in the United States. A 1 a.m. local time start at Wembley Stadium for the main event ring walks would translate to an 8 p.m. Eastern time start in the U.S. If timed to suit U.S. prime-time viewers, the main event could begin as late as 4 a.m. GMT.

To extend past the standard curfew, the London mayor would need to reach an agreement with Brent Council for dispensation. Brent Council stated that "Any changes to [the curfew] would have to be assessed by the stadium's safety advisory group of which Brent Council is a partner." London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he supports the fight being held in London.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn commented on the situation. "If he comes to me and says 'I want to do the fight in America for this reason', we'll all be very disappointed because I don't think there's a person on the planet that doesn't think this fight should take place in the UK," Hearn said. He added, "But he's paying the bill and the bill is extortionate, so you've got to find a way to make it work."

Hearn noted that if any changes to the existing contract are required, the agreement would need to be renegotiated. Anthony Joshua is scheduled to fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25, 2026. Tyson Fury is 37 years old, and Anthony Joshua is 36.