Fury vs Joshua fight cannot be allowed to become another Saudi slap in the face

“Joshua has already fought for the world title on Arabian soil, with his rematch victory against Andy Ruiz taking place in Jeddah back in December 2019, but the biggest all-British grudge fight of all time surely belongs in the UK”

Any suggestion that Tyson Fury’s long-awaited Battle of Britain against Anthony Joshua would take place in Saudi Arabia would be another grotesque ‘triumph’ for sportswashing.

Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight title rematch with Oleksandr Usyk has been pencilled in for August 20 in the oil-rich Middle East kingdom.

And now it is being reported, by well-connected boxing writer Jeff Powell, that the winner will take on WBC champion Fury in December – in the richest fight of all time – in an indoor arena in Jeddah.

But if the money men’s figures will be off the scale, it would also be a blow to boxing fans in the UK who would sell out Wembley two or three times over in the rush to see Joshua and Fury settle their scores.

Joshua has already fought for the world title on Arabian soil, with his rematch victory against Andy Ruiz taking place in Jeddah back in December 2019, but the biggest all-British grudge fight of all time surely belongs in the UK.

If it ends up as a megabucks Saudi showpiece, it would only be a another notch on the bedpost for the financiers of Newcastle United, LIV Golf and a Formula One deal based on the stench of money.

Neither Joshua no Fury need to take the Saudi lucre. You will not be stepping over either of them in a shop doorway begging for loose change to buy a cup of tea any time soon.

And there is no guarantee Fury will backtrack on his claim that his victory against Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April was his last bout, although the attraction of becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion remains an overwhelming antidote to retirement.

But a Fury-Joshua blockbuster belongs only in Britain – and it would be an abhorrent slap in the face for the punters if it ended up in the Middle East on the altar of cleansing the Saudis’ awful record on human rights.

Yes, the British Government sees fit to do business with the Saudis. They sell us oil, we sell them arms, so why shouldn’t sport sell its soul for pure greed?

But this is a fight that does not need to be exported for boatloads of cash. It would break all box office records if it was held at Wembley or any major stadium venue in Britain.

Fury and Joshua have traded insults and trodden different paths to avoid each other for too long.

If they are finally prepared to touch gloves and get ready to rumble, let’s see the Battle of Britain – in Great Britain.