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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally settle their rivalry in the ring on Friday, December 11, at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. The all-British heavyweight showdown, delayed for years by venue disputes and stalled negotiations, now has a confirmed home and date.
The location had been the primary sticking point throughout talks. Fury repeatedly blamed Joshua for the delay on social media, at one point floating a trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk, a fighter both men have lost to twice. Joshua’s camp insisted the bout belonged on British soil, and that stance ultimately prevailed.
“For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight. Back in April, I said that any announcement would come from me,” Turki Alalshikh wrote on X.
“I can now confirm that Fury vs Joshua will be coming to the UK, as I promised British boxing fans. The time for talking is over.”
The exact start time remains unconfirmed, though reports suggest the main event could run into the early hours of Saturday morning in the UK to accommodate American broadcast windows. Fury and Joshua are set to appear together at a press conference in London on Wednesday, September 30.
Both fighters quickly reposted the promotional artwork to their own channels. Joshua had teased his hand in the process shortly before the official announcement, posting a cryptic message on Instagram.
“The quietest ones often pull the strings. Those who appear least involved may hold the greatest control. Let them shout first, the wisest wait until the final move. Yours truly, Anthony Joshua.”
The official confirmation, which will see the fight broadcast globally on Netflix, credited Alalshikh, The Ring and Dana White. Notably absent were mentions of Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, the long-time promoters for Fury and Joshua respectively.
Alalshikh added: “Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans.”
Organisers have promised a “star-studded undercard,” with details to follow at a later date.
Dana White framed the matchup in stark terms: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamouring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide, and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”
How the Deal Finally Came Together
Joshua and Fury, both former heavyweight world champions, have circled each other for years. Callouts and trash talk defined the rivalry, but finalising terms proved far harder than trading verbal jabs.
The pair signed to fight each other earlier this year, yet months passed without a date or venue attached. Talk of staging the bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden gained real traction during the standoff, and the deal appeared close to collapsing entirely when Fury threatened to explore other options.
The British stadium fight survived those wobbles and now carries a fixed date.
Cardiff’s Heavyweight History
The Principality Stadium has hosted major British boxing before. Joshua has fought there twice, against Carlos Takam and in a unification bout with Joseph Parker. Cardiff’s boxing pedigree runs deeper still: the all-British heavyweight clash between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno took place at the National Stadium, the venue that once stood on the same site.
International broadcast demands mean the main event will likely start late into the night, a scheduling quirk with precedent. Joe Calzaghe’s 2007 fight with Mikkel Kessler at the same stadium also ran into the early hours.
Two Rocky Roads to December 11
Negotiations weren’t the only threat to this fight. Events inside the ropes nearly derailed it too.
Joshua’s tune-up bout in July came close to disaster when relatively unknown Kristian Prenga dropped him twice in the opening round. Joshua recovered to stop Prenga in round two.
Fury’s path has been just as unconventional. He announced his retirement after a rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk, took a year away from the sport, then began training in Thailand. He returned in April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, comfortably outpointing Aslanbek Makhmudov. Wanting one more tune-up, he boxed Mariusz Wach in Thailand in July, a non-televised bout, and stopped the veteran after seven rounds.
The long, winding build toward Fury vs Joshua has reached its final stage. Cardiff hosts the finish on December 11.
Stay with TipsGG for full fight-week coverage, odds analysis and undercard updates as the countdown to Fury vs Joshua continues.