A long-awaited boxing match between British former heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff, according to an event promoter.
The two boxers will meet at the Principality Stadium, promoter Turki Alalshikh said on social media on Thursday.
Earlier media reports had suggested promoters were initially proposing to stage the fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The long-awaited fight has been anticipated for more than a decade. (Reuters: Supplied/Action Images/Andrew Couldridge)
“For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight,” he posted 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…“
A clash between the British rivals has been one of the most anticipated fights for more than a decade.
Fury and Joshua ruled the heavyweight division for much of the past decade, 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.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, local time, Joshua’s announcement of the fight and message to fans was short: “I am inspiring a generation.”
Fury stepped out of retirement this year and made his return to the ring for the first time in more than a year with victories against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach.
Joshua’s only fights since losing his IBF world title fight against Daniel Dubois in 2024 were against YouTuber Jake Paul and Kristian Prenga.
Mr Alalshikh is a Saudi Arabian adviser who organises boxing events for the Middle Eastern kingdom.
While Fury and Joshua are arguably past their peak, it is a fight that is still likely to garner global attention and will be streamed worldwide on Netflix.
“THE WAIT IS OVER. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua finally collide,” Joshua’s promoter Matchroom posted on X.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn told The Independent last month they 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,” he said.
AP
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