Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet in the ring on December 11, 2026, after the long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown was officially confirmed for Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The fight, which has been discussed for more than a decade, was formally announced on Thursday by Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. The bout will be staged at the Welsh national stadium and streamed globally on Netflix.
The confirmation ends months of uncertainty over the date and location of the contest, with London and venues in the United States previously considered during negotiations.
For two former heavyweight champions who have spent years as major figures in British boxing without ever fighting each other professionally, the December contest will bring one of the sport’s most anticipated matchups to Cardiff.
Fury-Joshua Fight Finally Set for Cardiff
The fight will take place at Principality Stadium, one of Britain’s largest sporting venues.
The stadium confirmed that it will host the contest on December 11 following weeks of negotiations. The venue has a retractable roof and has previously hosted major football, rugby and boxing events.
Matchroom Boxing has also listed the fight for Friday, December 11, officially placing Fury and Joshua on the same card for the first time in their professional careers.
Netflix has confirmed that the fight will be streamed live globally to its members at no additional cost. The streaming platform said the event will take place at Principality Stadium and described it as the long-awaited meeting between the two British heavyweight stars.
The exact undercard is still to be announced.
A Rivalry More Than a Decade in the Making
Fury and Joshua have been linked with a fight for many years.
Both became world heavyweight champions and remained among the most prominent names in the division during the 2010s and early 2020s. Yet negotiations repeatedly failed to produce a professional meeting.
The rivalry developed largely outside the ring, with discussions about a potential fight continuing through different stages of both men’s careers.
Both fighters eventually suffered defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, who established himself as the dominant heavyweight champion of the period.
Despite those setbacks, the prospect of Fury fighting Joshua retained significant commercial and sporting interest.
The December 11 meeting will now give the two British heavyweights an opportunity to settle a rivalry that has remained unresolved throughout their professional careers.
Netflix confirmed that neither fighter has previously faced the other professionally.
Venue Dispute Delayed the Announcement
The location was one of the major issues during the negotiations.
Earlier discussions had involved possible venues in the United States, including Madison Square Garden in New York, while Wembley Stadium in London had also been considered.
Joshua’s camp had pushed for the fight to be staged in the United Kingdom, while Fury’s side had considered different options as negotiations continued.
The final agreement has brought the contest back to Britain, with Cardiff selected as the host city.
AFP reported that the decision followed months of negotiations and that previous discussions had included London and New York before the Principality Stadium agreement was reached.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, welcomed the decision to stage the fight in the United Kingdom and credited British supporters with helping bring the event to the country.
Fury and Joshua Enter Different Stages of Their Careers
The December fight comes at a different point in the careers of both boxers from when their rivalry first emerged.
Fury has returned to action after retirement and has continued his heavyweight career following his two defeats by Usyk.
AFP reported that Fury most recently defeated Mariusz Wach in Thailand in July.
Joshua has also continued his career after losing his IBF heavyweight title to Daniel Dubois in 2024.
He has subsequently returned to the ring, with his most recent fight coming against Kristian Prenga.
The two fighters therefore enter the contest with extensive championship experience but without the undefeated records they once carried during the period when their proposed fight was first discussed.
A Major Event for British Boxing
The contest represents an important moment for British boxing because Fury and Joshua have been two of the country’s leading heavyweight figures for much of the modern era.
Fury became a world heavyweight champion after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and later returned from a lengthy absence from the sport to reclaim major heavyweight titles.
Joshua won Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games before becoming a professional world champion and holding multiple heavyweight titles.
Their careers have included major victories, championship fights and periods at the top of the division.
Yet the absence of a Fury-Joshua fight has remained one of the most notable unfinished matchups in heavyweight boxing.
That changes on December 11.
Netflix Brings Global Audience to Cardiff
The decision to stream the event on Netflix gives the fight an audience extending well beyond Britain.
The platform has increasingly entered the live boxing market, and both Fury and Joshua have previously headlined events broadcast through Netflix.
The streaming arrangement means viewers around the world will be able to watch the fight through the platform rather than relying solely on traditional pay-per-view distribution.
The Principality Stadium also said the global nature of the event will showcase Cardiff and Wales to an international audience.
With the fight expected to attract viewers from Britain, Europe, North America, Africa and other boxing markets, the event is likely to have a substantial international profile.
For Cardiff, hosting the contest also represents a major opportunity to place the city at the centre of global sporting attention.
Why the Fight Matters
The significance of Fury versus Joshua goes beyond the fact that both men are British heavyweights.
The fight brings together two boxers whose careers have shaped the heavyweight division for more than a decade.
Their professional records include victories over some of the leading heavyweight names of their generation, while both have held world championship belts.
The fight also arrives after the division has undergone significant change.
Usyk has defeated both Fury and Joshua and established himself as one of the leading heavyweights of his era. Other contenders have emerged while Fury and Joshua have continued to compete at the highest level.
The December contest will therefore provide another major chapter in both fighters’ careers.
Rather than being a championship unification bout, the attraction is centred on the longstanding rivalry between two former champions and the question of which British heavyweight can claim victory when they finally meet.
Both Fighters Preparing for December
With the date and venue now confirmed, attention will turn towards training camps, promotional events and the final composition of the fight card.
Netflix has confirmed that Fury and Joshua will participate in a press conference in London on September 30. Further details about the undercard and fight schedule are expected to follow.
The confirmation also allows both camps to plan their preparations around a fixed date.
For Fury, the priority will be maintaining momentum following his return to the sport.
For Joshua, the fight represents another major test as he continues his career against one of the most accomplished heavyweights of his generation.
Neither fighter has previously had the opportunity to settle their rivalry inside the professional ring.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus will be on the September 30 press conference in London, followed by the completion of preparations for the December event.
Promoters are also expected to announce the remaining fighters on the card and provide additional information about the event schedule.
The fight itself is scheduled for December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff and will be streamed globally by Netflix.
After years of negotiations, postponements and uncertainty over the location, Fury and Joshua now have a confirmed date and venue.
The long-discussed British heavyweight rivalry will finally move from negotiations to the ring.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
Netflix
Matchroom Boxing
Principality Stadium
AFP
Associated Press
Sky Sports
The Guardian
