The long-awaited heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been confirmed for Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, 11 December, ending years of stalled negotiations between British boxing’s two biggest names.
Joshua and Fury spent nearly a decade circling one another, with multiple attempts to seal the fight collapsing while both men were still in their prime. Reports had suggested the bout could instead land in New York or Saudi Arabia, making Friday’s confirmation a boost for fans in Britain who had pushed for a home fight.
No start time has been announced yet, though there have been suggestions the main event could begin in the early hours to accommodate American viewers, with the fight set to stream live on Netflix.
Confirming the fight on X, Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh declared: “The time for talking is over.”
Both camps had reportedly traded blame over delays in finalising the deal, but the announcement now clears the path for a much-anticipated face-off.
However, the Welsh Rugby Union, which owns the Principality Stadium, noted that the fight still depends on a change to the venue’s premises licence, given the possibility of an early-hours start. Under the current licence, the stadium can only host boxing or wrestling events until 1am with the roof closed.
Joshua took to Instagram to share the fight poster, alongside a cryptic message: “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.”
Fury, for his part, posted an image of a Welsh dragon, describing a Cardiff fight as a “homecoming,” noting his mother’s family hails from Wales.
The two fighters are billed to meet face to face at a press conference in London on 30 September.
The rivalry dates back years, with the pair failing to agree terms in 2021 after a US judge ordered Fury to face Deontay Wilder instead. Though both men are past their prime and neither holds a world title, the clash remains one of the most significant heavyweight fights in recent memory.
Joshua’s last outing was a second-round win over Albania’s Kristian Prenga in July, despite being floored inside the opening 20 seconds. The Cardiff bout will not be for any title, as neither man currently holds a belt.
