Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could finally settle their long-standing rivalry in a blockbuster heavyweight showdown at Dublin's iconic Croke Park this September, according to emerging reports.
Discussions are reportedly underway to stage the much-anticipated bout at the 80,000-seat stadium, the historic home of Gaelic games. The proposed event hinges on two key factors: Fury must successfully navigate his comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in London this Saturday, and Joshua must forgo taking a separate warm-up fight this summer.
Fury, who last fought in December 2024, is making his return to the ring. Joshua, meanwhile, has only recently resumed training following a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
Should Joshua opt for a preparatory bout before facing Fury, the super-fight would likely be postponed until late 2024, with potential venues shifting back to the United Kingdom.
The potential Dublin event has gained significant momentum with the backing of Saudi Arabia-owned production company Sela and influential promoter Turki Alalshikh. This support could help overcome the financial and broadcaster disputes that have historically derailed negotiations for this all-British clash.
Peter McKenna, Chief Executive of Croke Park Stadium, expressed optimism about the prospect, highlighting a potential added bonus for Irish fight fans.
"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," McKenna told BBC Sport. "A lot of stars need to align... 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."
This development could finally realize the dream of Irish boxing superstar Katie Taylor, a two-weight undisputed champion, to headline at Croke Park. The 39-year-old has fought twice in Dublin but has previously been unable to secure a bout at the stadium, with upfront security costs cited as a primary obstacle. A Fury-Joshua undercard, guaranteed to sell out the venue, would likely remove that financial barrier.
Taylor has previously stated her ambition to have a retirement fight in her home country. While Fury stated this week that he wants to fight Joshua next, no formal agreements have been finalized, leaving fight fans awaiting the final bell on these complex negotiations.