Boxing News reports the longāawaited heavyweight meeting between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been officially announced. The pair are scheduled to meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 11 December, with the ring walk expected to take place after midnight to suit the US audience. The announcement follows weeks of disagreement over location between event organisers Sela and broadcaster Netflix ā who pressed for Madison Square Garden in New York ā and Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn, who insisted the fight be staged in the UK. The report notes both fighters returned to action in July, Fury beating Mariusz Wach and Joshua overcoming a scare to defeat Kristian Prenga.
Official announcement
Cardiff date and venue confirmed
Boxing News reports Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 11 December. Coverage is expected to include Netflix, and social media posts linked to the announcement indicated ring walks will be scheduled after midnight local time to accommodate viewers in the United States. The details were circulated on social media by Turki Alalshikh, whose post included the date, the Principality Stadium location and a note that the event will be shown live on Netflix.
Negotiations
Dispute over location nearly derailed the fight
According to Boxing News, the announcement follows a protracted disagreement over venue and broadcast plans. Event organisers Sela and Netflix were reportedly pushing for Madison Square Garden in New York, while Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn argued the clash should take place in the UK. That impasse threatened to scupper the bout, and at one stage Tyson Fury publicly turned his attention to a potential meeting with Oleksandr Usyk before the Cardiff location was agreed.
Recent form
Both men returned in July
Boxing News notes both fighters came through tuneāup outings in July. Fury defeated Mariusz Wach, while Joshua beat Kristian Prenga ā a fight in which Joshua 'overcame a scare', the report says. Those results had appeared to clear the way for a clash between the two former heavyweight titleholders, but the subsequent location dispute delayed final confirmation.
Reaction and context
Predictions already coming in from the boxing world
Boxing News reports there have already been a number of predictions from within boxing about the longāanticipated contest. One named voice is heavyweight contender Otto Wallin, who is also described in the report as being one of six fighters to have shared the ring with both Fury and Joshua. The story places the announcement in the wider context of a rivalry that has been discussed for more than a decade, dating back to when both men were holding world heavyweight titles.
