Fury to Face Joshua in Cardiff as Long-Awaited Fight Finally Confirmed

Fury to Face Joshua in Cardiff as Long-Awaited Fight Finally Confirmed – Emmanuel Ferdinand

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet in the ring on December 11 after their long-awaited all-British heavyweight clash was confirmed for Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

The announcement on Thursday ends months of uncertainty over the venue and date, with London and New York previously considered for the contest.

Saudi Arabian boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh confirmed the details, saying the fight would finally come to the United Kingdom after years of attempts to make the matchup happen.

“For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight,” Alalshikh said, adding that “the time for talking is over.”

He also described Fury and Joshua as “two of the best heavyweights of this generation” finally meeting in the ring.

The fight had already been agreed, with both fighters signing contracts earlier this year, but the venue became a major stumbling block.

Fury was open to fighting outside Britain, while Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, maintained that the agreement called for a UK venue. The disagreement delayed the official announcement and led to several changes in the proposed date and location.

After much delay, Principality Stadium was selected as the venue for the bout.

Hearn welcomed Thursday’s announcement, thanking British fans for their support in helping the fight get over the line.

Fury and Joshua have been linked with a fight for more than a decade, but repeated negotiations failed to produce a meeting. Both are former two-time heavyweight champions, with Fury having held the WBC, WBO and IBF titles, while Joshua has held the WBA, IBF and WBO belts during his career.

Their careers have also intersected through Usyk. Fury lost twice to the Ukrainian in 2024, while Joshua suffered two defeats to him in 2021 and 2022, with Usyk taking major heavyweight titles from both fighters during that period.

Both fighters have returned to action this year. Fury defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision in April before stopping Mariusz Wach in July, while Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of their July bout.

The fight will be broadcast globally on Netflix, while Fury and Joshua are expected to begin their promotional activities with a press conference in London on September 30.