Joshua vs. Dubois: Organiser seeks increase in Wembley capacity

Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, chaired by Turki Al-Sheikh, has requested an increase in capacity at Wembley Stadium for the highly anticipated heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois next month.

Al-Sheikh made the announcement on social media platform X, citing high demand for tickets as the reason behind the request.

The fight, scheduled for September 21, will see Joshua and Dubois battle for the vacant IBF heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium.

“Due to high ticket demand, we’ve requested to extend the capacity at Wembley Stadium for the highly anticipated bout between Joshua and Dubois at #RiyadhSeasonCard Wembley Edition,” Al-Sheikh posted.

“We hope to set a record for the largest attendance in boxing history at Wembley Stadium.”

This move could potentially surpass the previous record of 94,000 fans, set during Tyson Fury’s knockout victory over Dillian Whyte in 2022.

The increase in capacity aims to accommodate the overwhelming interest in the all-London heavyweight clash, which has captured the attention of boxing fans worldwide.

The upcoming fight was confirmed following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate the IBF heavyweight title after becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

Joshua, riding a four-fight win streak, will face Dubois, who secured his spot by defeating Filip Hrgovic in June.

The potential record-breaking event is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to promote its Riyadh season, with Al-Sheikh aiming to re-establish the sport as a mainstream success.

The event is expected to include family-friendly attractions and a performance by Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, adding to the spectacle of what could be a historic night for boxing.