Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Tyson Fury has described his upcoming heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua as a “stepping stone” towards a third meeting with Oleksandr Usyk, while predicting that he will stop Joshua inside seven rounds.
Fury and Joshua are scheduled to meet on December 11, 2026, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, in one of the most anticipated all-British heavyweight fights of the modern era.
The long-awaited bout was officially confirmed on September 24 after months of negotiations over the venue and other arrangements. The fight will be streamed globally on Netflix.
Fury made clear after the announcement that his ambitions extend beyond Joshua. The former heavyweight champion said he intends to defeat Joshua and then pursue another opportunity against Usyk, who has beaten him twice.
Fury targets knockout against Joshua
Fury has predicted a stoppage victory against Joshua, saying he expects to end the fight within seven rounds.
The British heavyweight made the comments after the Fury-Joshua fight was finally confirmed, describing Joshua as a temporary obstacle on the route to another meeting with Usyk.
Fury’s comments underline the importance he attaches to a potential third fight with the Ukrainian. The two boxers met twice in 2024, with Usyk winning both contests on points.
Fury lost their first encounter by split decision before Usyk won the rematch by unanimous decision, leaving the Ukrainian with two victories over the former WBC heavyweight champion.
Fury now wants an opportunity to reverse that record if he can first overcome Joshua.
Joshua and Fury finally set for Cardiff
The Fury-Joshua fight will take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
The venue, which can accommodate tens of thousands of spectators, has hosted major sporting events and previously staged significant boxing contests.
The announcement ended years of uncertainty surrounding a fight that has been discussed repeatedly but never materialised.
Both Fury and Joshua have held world heavyweight titles and have been among the most recognisable figures in British boxing for more than a decade.
Despite their prominence, the two have never previously met in a professional boxing ring.
Their first professional meeting will therefore come at a stage when both fighters are seeking to rebuild or strengthen their positions in the heavyweight division.
The fight will also be available globally through Netflix, giving the contest an international audience beyond traditional boxing pay-per-view markets.
A rivalry that took years to make
Fury and Joshua have been linked with each other for years, with negotiations repeatedly failing to produce a completed fight.
The latest negotiations were complicated by disagreements over where the bout should take place. Earlier discussions involved possible venues outside Britain, but Joshua’s camp pushed for the contest to be staged in the United Kingdom.
The eventual agreement to hold the fight in Cardiff means the two British heavyweights will settle their long-running rivalry on home soil.
The Welsh Rugby Union and Principality Stadium confirmed that the venue would host the heavyweight contest on December 11.
The confirmation also allows both camps to begin their preparations with a fixed date and location.
Fury and Joshua enter from victories
Fury comes into the contest after returning to the ring in 2026.
The World Boxing Council lists Fury’s professional record at 36 wins, two defeats and one draw, with 25 of his victories coming by knockout.
His most recent bout before the Joshua fight was a victory over Mariusz Wach.
Joshua, meanwhile, has also rebuilt his record following defeats earlier in his career.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has a professional record of 30 wins and four losses, including 27 knockouts, according to the World Boxing Council.
Joshua’s recent victories include a win over Jake Paul and a stoppage of Kristian Prenga.
The contrasting records and styles of the two fighters are expected to form a major part of the build-up to December’s contest.
Usyk remains central to Fury’s plans
Fury’s comments about Joshua being a route towards Usyk give the Cardiff fight an additional layer of significance.
The Ukrainian has already established a strong record against both British heavyweights.
Usyk defeated Joshua by unanimous decision in their first meeting in 2021 before winning their 2022 rematch by split decision.
He then faced Fury twice in 2024.
Usyk won their first contest by split decision before securing a unanimous-decision victory in the rematch.
Those results mean Usyk has already beaten both men, making a potential third Fury-Usyk fight a major objective for Fury.
However, that opportunity remains dependent on what happens against Joshua.
Fury must first defeat Joshua before any future negotiations for another Usyk fight can realistically move forward.
Joshua has his own stakes in the contest
For Joshua, the Cardiff fight represents an opportunity to defeat one of the most accomplished British heavyweights of his generation.
The former Olympic champion has spent much of his professional career competing at the top of the heavyweight division and has held multiple world titles.
A victory over Fury would add another significant name to his record and provide an important chapter in his career.
Joshua has also previously lost twice to Usyk, meaning a victory over Fury would give him a major opportunity to strengthen his position in the division.
The December contest is therefore not simply a meeting between two well-known British fighters. It could have significant consequences for both men’s future ambitions in the heavyweight division.
Global audience expected for Cardiff fight
The decision to stream the fight globally on Netflix is expected to give the event a broad international reach.
Netflix has previously carried major boxing events involving both fighters, including Joshua’s bout with Jake Paul and Fury’s fights after his return to the ring.
The Cardiff contest will bring the two British stars together in an event designed for a worldwide audience.
For boxing fans in Africa and other international markets, the global streaming arrangement is also expected to make access to the fight more straightforward than traditional pay-per-view arrangements.
The event’s international reach reflects the commercial profile both fighters have developed during their careers.
What happens next
Fury and Joshua are expected to continue preparations for their December 11 showdown, with promotional activities beginning ahead of the fight.
The two fighters are also scheduled to participate in a press conference in London as the formal build-up begins.
For Fury, the immediate objective is clear: defeat Joshua and keep alive his ambition of facing Usyk for a third time.
For Joshua, the challenge is to prevent that plan from progressing by securing victory in Cardiff.
The outcome will determine the next stage of both fighters’ careers and could have a significant impact on the direction of the heavyweight division.
Until the opening bell, however, Fury’s prediction of a knockout remains a prediction rather than an established outcome.
The only confirmed development is that after years of negotiations, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet professionally on December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
World Boxing Council
Netflix Tudum
Principality Stadium
Sky Sports
The Guardian
Al Jazeera
ESPN
