If Anthony Joshua is willing to fight Tyson Fury at 2am, the rest of us can bloody well stay up to watch it.

That's where we are with this fight. AJ has gone on record to say he wouldn't object to a middle-of-the-night start time if it's the price of getting the all-British heavyweight showdown staged at Wembley Stadium. Think about what that actually means — one of the biggest stars in British sport, telling the world he'll walk to the ring at an hour when most of us are either asleep or arguing about something daft at a kebab shop, just to make sure the fight happens on home soil.

Say what you want about Joshua, but that's not a man trying to duck anything.

Why Wembley Changes Everything

There's a version of this fight that happens in Saudi Arabia, probably at a reasonable hour, probably in front of a crowd that's flown in on corporate packages and doesn't really know who either man is. That version of the fight would make more money. It would also be almost entirely soulless.

Wembley is different. Ninety thousand people packed into that stadium, both fighters walking out under lights with the whole country watching — that's the version of this fight that earns its place in the history books. Joshua knows it. That's why he's willing to work around whatever time zone compromise needs to be made for the American market.

The 2am start would exist because of broadcast demands — if you're pulling in US viewers on a Saturday night, that means the UK crowd is sitting down at a deeply antisocial hour. It's not ideal. But [the heavyweight division is already being reshaped](/getohedz/boxing/wilder-would-welcome-usyk-fight-says-co-manager) by forces that don't always put fans first, and honestly, a late-night Wembley spectacular still beats a mid-evening event nobody feels anything about.

The Ball Is Not in Joshua's Court

Here's the uncomfortable part of all this. Joshua signalling his flexibility is a good sign, but it doesn't actually move the fight forward on its own. These negotiations involve promoters, broadcasters, sanctioning bodies, and Fury's side — none of whom have shown a consistent ability to get out of their own way.

We've watched this fight nearly happen before. The contracts, the mandatory challengers, the stadium availability, the competing broadcast deals — it always finds a way to collapse. Joshua being relaxed about a 2am kickoff is one less obstacle, and we're grateful for it, but there are plenty more queuing up behind it.

[The heavyweight picture right now](/getohedz/boxing/joyce-misses-out-on-heavyweight-title-shot-as-gassiev-opponent) is complicated enough without two of its biggest names continuing to circle each other without ever actually signing anything.

Our Take

We want this fight. Everyone wants this fight. Two British heavyweights, Wembley, whatever time the clock says — put it on and we'll be there, bleary-eyed and buzzing. Joshua has done his bit by taking a 2am start off the table as a point of contention. Now the rest of the people involved need to stop hiding behind logistics and get it made. The excuses are running out.