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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally meet on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium after years of delays and failed negotiations.
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The heavyweight blockbuster faced uncertainty over its venue, with New York’s Madison Square Garden and London’s Wembley Stadium previously considered.
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Contractual disagreements over the location and Fury’s alternative fight plans threatened to derail the long-awaited showdown.
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Both former world champions will enter the contest after comeback victories in 2026, setting the stage for one of boxing’s most anticipated encounters.
September 24, (THEWILL) – The long-awaited heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has finally been confirmed for December 11, bringing an end to months of uncertainty, venue disputes and fears that the highly anticipated British showdown could collapse once again.
The two former world champions will meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with the confirmation ending a prolonged wait for a fight that has been discussed for more than a decade.
The contest will be broadcast live on Netflix, adding a global audience to one of the biggest events in British boxing.
Although Joshua and Fury had reportedly signed contracts earlier in the year, negotiations over the date and location continued to delay the official announcement.
New York’s Madison Square Garden had emerged as a serious option, while Wembley Stadium in London was also considered before organisers settled on Cardiff.
The location became a major sticking point because Joshua’s contractual arrangements required the fight to take place in the United Kingdom.
The possibility of staging the bout in the United States created tension during negotiations, with Joshua’s camp maintaining its position as discussions continued.
Fury also publicly expressed frustration over the delay and explored alternative possibilities, including a potential third fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Those developments increased concerns that the Joshua showdown could be postponed or abandoned despite the rivalry’s enormous commercial appeal.
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Cardiff eventually emerged as the preferred destination, partly because the Principality Stadium offers a retractable roof and has experience hosting major boxing events.
Joshua has previously fought at the venue against Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker, giving him familiarity with the stadium ahead of the biggest contest of his career in years.
Both fighters have also had eventful 2026 campaigns. Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round in July, while Fury returned from a period away from boxing to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov before stopping Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
The fight is expected to begin late at night or in the early hours of the following morning to accommodate international broadcast audiences. The exact ring-walk time remains subject to final arrangements.
After years of talk, failed plans, and mounting uncertainty, Joshua and Fury now have a confirmed date and venue.
The long-awaited rivalry is finally set to move from speculation to the ring on December 11 in Cardiff.
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Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
