Speaking to Sky Sports, Tyson Fury’s uncle and trainer Peter Fury has confirmed that the UAE is in the final running as a host for his heavyweight rematch against Wladimir Klitschko.
Tyson Fury indicated earlier this month that Abu Dhabi or Doha might be in the running, when he told The Daily Telegraph there were five possible venues. He had said "I'd rather go to Abu Dhabi or Qatar" than fight again in Germany.
He also cryptically said there had been negotiations “to have it on a cruise ship” with a “Sheikh in Dubai”, though he stipulated he no longer thought such a scenario was possible.
On Tuesday his uncle narrowed in on the UAE or Fury’s native UK as a site for the blockbuster bout.
“The fight is going to take place in one of two places,” he said. “It’s either going to be in the UAE or in the United Kingdom.
“It’s a toss-up between the two and talks are ongoing. The best package will take it.
“It’s just about maximising revenue.”
Peter Fury did not specify any details into what it would take to make a UAE fight happen. Speculative venue candidates here might would include Hamdan Sports Complex, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium or World Trade Centre in Dubai; Zayed Sports City Stadium, Du Arena or Ipic Arena in Abu Dhabi; or the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
The Sheikh Rashid Hall at Dubai World Trade Centre hosted a fight between Shelby Gross and former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer in 2008.
Regarding the unprecedented possibility of staging the fight on a private yacht, Tyson Fury also said earlier this month: “We even had negotiations to have it on a cruise ship. There was a Sheikh in Dubai who owned a yacht which would fit only 120 people on. He didn’t want to broadcast the fight anywhere and he said he could sell 120 tickets at $1 million (Dh3.67m) each, so that would have been $120m.
“He wanted to have an exclusive heavyweight championship of the world fight with no TV station, with just those 120 people watching. He didn’t say how much I would get, but I probably would have had the biggest half of the $120 million — so I was all for it.
“I don’t think it’s possible now, but it would have been an epic story.”
Peter Fury did place the UK as a preferable host for the fight, however.
“Klitschko is happy to come to London and fight in the UK. He hasn’t got a problem with it. Neither fighter is really bothered where it’s at. Tyson would prefer it in England.
“I would as well but it’s about where it makes the most revenue. That’s contracted.”
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