Croke Park could stage Fury v Joshua in September

· BBC Sport

ByCoral Barry
Combat Sports Senior Journalist
Published
49 Comments

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could fight at Croke Park in September, with talks under way to stage the long-awaited heavyweight bout in Dublin.

The event is being targeted for the 80,000-seat stadium - the iconic home of Gaelic games - but the bout depends on Fury winning his comeback fight on Saturday and Joshua not taking a warm-up this summer.

Fury takes on Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov in London this weekend while Joshua has only just returned to training after he was injured in a car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Fury has not fought since December 2024 while Joshua's last bout was against Jake Paul last December.

Should Joshua decide to take a warm-up fight before meeting Fury, the event will be targeted for the end of the year - potentially in the UK.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Croke Park stadium chief executive Peter McKenna said a Fury-Joshua fight in Dublin could mean Katie Taylor finally realised her dream of fighting in the stadium.

"The real hope is that we will get Tyson Fury here later on in the year. That would be such a world-billing event that we would be able to facilitate a Katie Taylor fight here," he said.

"A lot of stars need to align. Katie's manager needs to agree, Katie's promoter needs to agree, Tyson Fury's promoter needs to agree.

"I am very confident that all three are coming to the sense that this is one of Ireland's greatest sporting athletes and it would be such a 'wow' to have her here and for her to finish her career here."

A super fight between the two Britons has long been mooted but talks have consistently broken down, mostly because of fight purse demands and broadcaster disputes.

The event in Dublin would happen with the backing of Saudi Arabia-owned production company Sela and influential promoter Turki Alalshikh, co-founder of Zuffa Boxing.

Speaking to BBC Sport on Wednesday, Fury said he wants to fight Joshua next but nothing concrete has been decided.

Irish superstar and two-weight undisputed champion Taylor, 39, has twice fought in Dublin but has been unable to secure a bout at Croke Park.

Upfront security costs have been an issue, but with the certainty that Fury and Joshua would sell out the stadium, that would not be expected to be a sticking point should Taylor fight on the card.

Taylor has already said her ambition is to hold a retirement fight in Dublin and bring an end to her illustrious career on home soil.

BBC Sport has asked Katie Taylor's team for comment.

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