“If Turki calls me and says, ‘Listen, we have an opportunity here to do this. What do you think?’ I said, ‘Look, I’d rather do it in the UK, but let me talk to Anthony.’ We’ll look at the numbers and go from there,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV. “I wouldn’t rule out this fight taking place anywhere, but I think it’s more than likely you’ll see it in the UK.”

These comments may prove crucial due to the scale of the event.

Unlike recent blockbuster fights that have largely revolved around a single marquee attraction, Joshua vs. Fury features two internationally recognized heavyweight stars. Both fighters headlined stadium events, attracted significant pay-per-view audiences and built a fan base that reached far beyond the UK.

This reality may ultimately influence the event venue discussion.

From a British perspective, Wembley Stadium would seem a natural venue for the fight. The atmosphere created by two domestic heavyweight rivals could make this one of the biggest sporting events in recent British history.

However, Saudi Arabia’s investment in boxing is rarely driven solely by ticket sales revenues. The Kingdom is increasingly using major sporting events to promote tourism and showcase itself to international audiences as part of its broader Vision 2030 strategy.

If Turki Alalshikh is bankrolling what could become the biggest fight in British boxing history, there is a business case for staging it in Riyad rather than allowing another country to benefit from the influx of visitors and world attention.

Hearn maintains that the UK remains the preferred destination. However, his confirmation that discussions could resume if Turki offers an alternative suggests the setting may not be as placid as many fans assumed.

The World Boxing Organization has responded to Floyd Schofield’s deleted claims, with president Gustavo Olivieri urging the lightweight fighter to hand over any evidence he has to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.

Schofield, who remains the mandatory challenger to Gervonta Davis under a separate WBA order, appeared to make the allegations on social media before deleting the post.

What exactly Schofield said remains unclear.

The concern faded away before many had a chance to see it, but Olivieri’s response left no doubt as to the seriousness of the concerns raised.

“Hey, Master!” Olivieri began.

“If you have credible evidence, documentation, witness statements, or other credible information that suggests corruption, bribery, fraud, abuse of power, or any other unlawful conduct involving a WBO official, I encourage you to submit such information to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the FBI or other appropriate agencies, so that it may be appropriately reviewed and investigated.”

Olivieri also advised Schofield to seek legal advice if he believed he had been wrongly denied opportunities.

“If you believe that another sanctioning authority has wrongly denied you an opportunity, you may wish to consult a lawyer experienced in boxing to assess your situation and advise you of any rights and remedies that may be available to you.”

Second time

The exchange marks the second time in recent months that Olivieri has publicly urged someone in the boxing world to contact the FBI if there is evidence to support allegations involving the sport’s governing body.

This also reflects a trend that is becoming more and more common in the world of boxing social media.

Rather than private discussions, formal complaints, or legal channels, complaints are often brought to the public before being later clarified – if they are clarified at all.

The moment is noteworthy as Schofield remains at the center of the ongoing WBA situation involving Davis. With the deadline still looming and Davis lacking a viable return option, the undefeated contender has repeatedly applied pressure via social media.

Schofield quickly backed down, although the reaction his words provoked soon overshadowed the complaint itself.

Public forum

Posts like Schofield’s are becoming common, and sanctioning authorities are increasingly responding to criticism, accusations and frustration in public places.

Every ranking, exemption, must-see and championship ruling is now analyzed in minutes.

Even under Olivieri’s post, users immediately questioned several recent WBO decisions, including allowing Janibek Alimkhanuly to retain his title despite his long absence and installing Keyshawn Davis as the mandatory challenger to Shakur Stevenson, even though Davis has never fought for the 147-pound title or fought for the 140-weight title.

It may never be known whether Schofield’s fears were justified.

But when boxers go public with their concerns along with fans, the job of sanctioning authorities becomes much more arduous.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Dave Allen has predicted how compatriot Conor Benn will fare if he faces Ryan Garcia later this year.

Both pairs are to break off contact with each other before the end of 2026, but the date and place of their fight for the world title have not been officially announced.

It was also reported earlier this week that Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy, did so sent a cease and desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and TKO Groupwho represent Benn.

It is alleged that Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing never obtained consent from Golden Boy to proceed with the fight between Benn and Garcia, who is reportedly still under contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional team.

At the same time, White stated at the Zuffa Boxing 07 post-fight press conference that announcements were imminent regarding the Garcia-Benn fight, which is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas.

This would mean “King Ry” will make his first defense of the WBC welterweight title he won by unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in February.

Meanwhile, Benn is the mandatory challenger for the WBC 147-pound title, even though he hasn’t made that weight since stopping Chris van Heerden in the second round in 2022.

Regardless of weight though, he’s a British heavyweight Allen made the prediction on social media that Garcia will be a level or two above his potential opponent.

“At first glance, I can’t imagine Conor being good enough to beat Garcia. Conor is a good fighter, don’t get me wrong.

“I think he’s good, he’s really athletic, but [I] just place Garcia in the top bracket. In my opinion, it will be possible to stop Garcia. I think it’s probably a level or two above where we saw Conor. But it’s an captivating fight.”

Indeed, Benn has yet to establish himself as a world-class operator, even after back-to-back points victories over faded versions of Chris Eubank Jr and Regis Prograis.