CARDIFF, Wales — After more than a decade of false starts, failed negotiations and what-ifs, the biggest fight in British boxing history is finally official.
Former heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will meet on December 11th at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, UK, promoter Turki Alalshikh announced on social media on Thursday.
The long-awaited showdown between the two British former heavyweight champions will take place in Cardiff, ending 15 years of speculation. "For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight," Alalshikh posted on X. "I can now confirm that Fury Vs Joshua will be coming to the UK, as I promised British boxing fans,"
The announcement was confirmed by the Associated Press on Thursday morning in Manchester, England. A Fight Years in the MakingFor much of the past decade, Fury and Joshua ruled the division, but a bout between them to unify all the major belts never came to fruition. Both were later beaten by Oleksandr Usyk, who became the undisputed heavyweight champion.
A clash between the British rivals has been one of the most anticipated fights for more than a decade.
While the fight had initially been linked with venues in New York and London, promoters settled on the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital after prolonged negotiations. Alalshikh revealed the bout will take place in Cardiff's Principality Stadium, after media reports said promoters had previously proposed to stage it at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn had insisted on the fight taking place in the United Kingdom. "We don't want the money, we'd rather it was in the UK," Hearn said last month.
The fight will be streamed live on Netflix, with Matchroom posting on X: "THE WAIT IS OVER. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua finally collide". The bout will be broadcast on Netflix.
According to Ring Magazine, the winner will claim the WBA "super" heavyweight title. The fight will be promoted by Alalshikh's Ring Magazine in partnership with UFC CEO Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. Tale of the TapeTyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) — The 38-year-old "Gypsy King" stepped out of retirement this year and made his return with victories against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach. Fury is coming off a seventh-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach in July, and previously celebrated after winning against Mariusz Wach during a heavyweight charity bout in Pattaya, Thailand in July.
Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) — The 36-year-old former two-time unified world champion last fought in July, beating Kristian Prenga via second-round knockout. Joshua's only fights since losing his IBF world title fight against Daniel Dubois in 2024 were against YouTuber Jake Paul and Kristian Prenga.
While Fury and Joshua are arguably past their peak, it is a fight that is still likely to garner global attention.
Principality Stadium, with a capacity of over 73,000, is expected to sell out within hours. It has previously hosted Joshua's knockout win over Carlos Takam in 2017 and Fury's classic battles.
December 11th. Cardiff. No belts needed to sell this one — just pride, legacy, and 15 years of waiting.