Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet in the ring on December 11, with their long-awaited heavyweight clash confirmed for the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The Fury Joshua fight will be shown globally on Netflix as the two former world champions prepare for one of the most anticipated bouts in British boxing.
Organisers are considering a late start, which could see the main event take place in the early hours of Saturday in the UK. The timing would help attract viewers in the United States.
Fury and Joshua to Face Fans
Joshua, 36, reacted to the announcement on Instagram, writing, “I am inspiring a generation.” Fury has yet to make a public comment on the confirmation.
The fighters will meet at a press conference in London on Wednesday, September 30. The event will officially begin the promotional build-up to the December showdown.
The fight is being promoted through a partnership involving Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and UFC president Dana White.
Alalshikh described the contest as a meeting between two of the leading heavyweights of their generation.
Cardiff Wins the Battle for Venue
The Fury Joshua fight had been linked with several major venues before Cardiff was selected.
London’s Wembley Stadium and New York’s Madison Square Garden were considered earlier. However, issues surrounding both locations opened the door for the Principality Stadium.
The Cardiff venue has previously staged major late-night boxing events. One notable example was Joe Calzaghe’s 2007 fight against Mikkel Kessler, which started at 1am GMT.
Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff Council officials have welcomed the announcement. They expect the event to strengthen Cardiff’s reputation for hosting major sporting occasions and provide a boost to the local economy.
Some operational arrangements are still being finalised.
A Fight More Than a Decade in the Making
Fury and Joshua have spent years trying to get their rivalry into the ring.
The two camps reached an agreement in principle for a two-fight series in 2020. A proposed undisputed heavyweight contest followed in 2021, but Deontay Wilder’s legal challenge led Fury into another bout with the American.
Joshua later agreed to a 60-40 financial split for a potential Fury fight in 2022. That attempt also collapsed.
Now, the Fury Joshua fight has a confirmed date and venue.
Joshua had previously pushed for the contest to happen in Britain. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, thanked British supporters for helping the long-awaited fight reach this stage.
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White Joins High-Profile Promotion
Dana White’s involvement has added another major name to the event.
White said Fury and Joshua bring a combined 66 victories, 52 knockouts and several heavyweight world titles into the contest.
He also described December 11 as the moment when two of the biggest names in the division will finally collide.
The involvement of White has attracted attention because Hearn previously said he did not want him involved in promoting the fight.
Despite the years of failed negotiations, fans now have a confirmed date to look forward to.
Thousands are expected to travel to Cardiff for what could become one of the biggest boxing nights Britain has hosted in recent years.