Former world champion Anthony Crolla has strongly advocated for a potential blockbuster fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to be staged in the United Kingdom, emphasizing that such a historic clash between two of Britain's greatest heavyweights deserves a home crowd. Crolla believes that moving this bout overseas for purely financial reasons would be a disservice to British boxing fans.
Why UK Venues Are Ideal for Fury vs Joshua
According to Crolla, iconic outdoor stadiums like Old Trafford and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium represent the perfect venues for this monumental event. He acknowledged that Saudi Arabia offers world-class production values and substantial monetary incentives, but stressed that this particular fight holds deeper significance for the country. In his view, the legacy and electric atmosphere of a UK stadium would far outweigh any financial benefits available elsewhere.
Crolla's Disappointment with Saudi Arabia Option
Speaking to The Sun, Anthony Crolla expressed that he would be genuinely disappointed if the Fury-Joshua fight took place in Saudi Arabia. While he has worked on boxing shows there and witnessed their high production standards firsthand, he firmly believes this specific bout belongs on British soil. Crolla explained that British fans should be at the heart of such a significant sporting occasion, creating an unforgettable experience that money cannot replicate.
Tyson Fury's Comeback and Future Prospects
Tyson Fury has already announced his return from retirement to face Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 in Manchester, with the fight scheduled to be streamed on Netflix. Makhmudov brings considerable experience with 21 wins from 23 bouts, including a victory over British heavyweight Dave Allen last year that has made him familiar to UK audiences.
Crolla considers Fury's choice of comeback opponent to be sensible, believing Fury should emerge victorious though questions remain about his condition. He noted that Fury's grueling trilogy with Deontay Wilder and his fights against Oleksandr Usyk have taken a physical toll, but added that Fury's retirement reversal comes as no surprise given his history of changing his mind about career decisions.
Attention Returns to Fury-Joshua Matchup
With Fury's comeback scheduled, attention has naturally shifted back to the long-anticipated showdown with Anthony Joshua. Crolla maintains that public demand for this fight will always exist, but emphasized that Joshua's personal circumstances must take priority. Joshua recently suffered the tragic loss of two close friends in a car accident while in Nigeria, and Crolla stated that if Joshua chose to walk away from boxing to focus on personal healing, nobody could reasonably blame him.
Crolla added that Joshua has already made an enormous impact on British boxing and remains one of the sport's biggest stars regardless of his future decisions. The former champion's comments highlight the delicate balance between sporting spectacle and human considerations in high-profile boxing matches.
