Frank Smith: No Deal Yet for Fury vs. Joshua in New York

Frank Smith says no agreement has been reached to move the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua fight to New York, pushing back hard on reports that Madison Square Garden is already locked in as the venue.

Speaking at the press conference for Dalton Smith's fight with Alberto Puello, the Matchroom Boxing CEO said the existing signed contract calls for the fight to happen in the United Kingdom this year, and that nothing on paper has changed.

"We signed a contract for the fight to take place this year in the UK. As far as we're concerned, we're delivering upon everything we said we'd do. We're not the ones in the position trying to change anything," Smith said to DAZN Boxing.

What Did Frank Smith Actually Say About the Venue?

Frank Smith made clear that Matchroom has not signed off on any amended deal placing Fury vs. Joshua in New York, calling that characterization factually incorrect. He said Anthony Joshua has fulfilled every obligation on his end and that any change to the UK site would require a separate negotiation, one he acknowledged promoter Eddie Hearn is already engaged in.

"If you want to have a discussion about changing it, then that's a discussion to be had. That's a discussion Eddie has had and is in talks with, but nothing's changed," Smith said.

Smith also pushed back on Dana White's involvement in the venue talks, pointing out that White has no promotional ties to Joshua and no standing to commit him to Madison Square Garden. "We are Anthony Joshua's exclusive promoters throughout the rest of his career. We've worked with him since day one, and Dana White's lies are unraveling in front of him," Smith said.

Netflix dropped a Fury-Joshua promotional trailer this week that fueled speculation the fight was set, but Smith said the bout itself was agreed months ago and the only open issue is where it happens. He added that Matchroom asked for the UK during the original negotiations and got no pushback at the time. "We wanted it in the UK. That's what we agreed to, and they agreed to it. Everyone was happy. No one raised a concern with it. It's only subsequently that there is an issue," Smith said.

Why This Matters for the Fight Actually Happening

A venue swap to New York can only go through if Matchroom is compensated enough to approve an amended contract, and until that paperwork exists, any report treating Madison Square Garden as locked in is getting ahead of the facts. That gives Matchroom real leverage in the conversation, but leverage cuts both ways here. If neither side bends, the whole fight risks falling apart, and Joshua's alternatives get a lot less appealing fast. A rematch with Daniel Dubois or a fight against Moses Itauma would put him in with younger, live opponents for a fraction of the money a Fury fight generates. Another stoppage loss on top of that would gut Joshua's drawing power and burn off whatever nostalgic appeal is left in a Fury matchup down the line.

Betting Angle

Books and bettors should treat any circulating Fury-Joshua market as provisional until Matchroom and Fury's side actually settle on a site, since fight economics, gate potential, and site fees shift meaningfully between a UK stadium show and a Madison Square Garden date. The bigger risk for the market isn't the odds on the fight itself, it's the fight happening on the announced timeline at all. Smith's comments make clear this is still a live negotiation, not a done deal, so bettors chasing early lines on a specific date or venue should expect volatility until both sides confirm the paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight venue been changed to New York?

No. Frank Smith says the signed contract still calls for the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, and no amended deal for New York or Madison Square Garden has been completed.

What did Frank Smith say about Dana White's claim on the Fury-Joshua venue?

Frank Smith said Dana White has no promotional authority over Anthony Joshua and cannot commit him to a venue, since Matchroom Boxing is Joshua's exclusive promoter.

Could the Fury vs. Joshua fight still move to Madison Square Garden?

A move is possible only if Matchroom Boxing receives sufficient compensation to approve an amended contract, and Eddie Hearn is reportedly already in talks on the topic, but no change has been finalized.