Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, led by Turki Al-Sheikh, has requested an increase in Wembley Stadium’s capacity for the highly anticipated heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois next month.
Al-Sheikh announced the request on the social media platform X, citing overwhelming ticket demand as the reason for seeking additional seating.
Scheduled for September 21, the fight will feature Joshua and Dubois competing for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium.
“Due to high ticket demand, we’ve requested an expansion of Wembley Stadium’s capacity for the highly anticipated Joshua vs. Dubois bout at the #RiyadhSeasonCard Wembley Edition,” Al-Sheikh posted.
“We aim to set a new record for the largest attendance in boxing history at Wembley Stadium.”
This move could potentially surpass the current attendance record of 94,000 fans, set during Tyson Fury’s knockout win over Dillian Whyte in 2022.
The increase in capacity is intended to accommodate the immense interest in this all-London heavyweight showdown, which has captivated boxing fans around the globe.
The upcoming fight was arranged after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF heavyweight title following his achievement of becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion.
Joshua, currently on a four-fight winning streak, will take on Dubois, who earned his place by defeating Filip Hrgovic in June.
The potentially record-breaking event is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to promote its Riyadh season, with Al-Sheikh looking to reinvigorate boxing as a mainstream sport.
In addition to the fight, the event will feature family-friendly attractions and a performance by Liam Gallagher, former frontman of Oasis, adding to what promises to be a historic night for boxing.
