The long-awaited all-British heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is set to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11. The highly anticipated bout, which has been in the making for over a decade, will be broadcast globally on Netflix. This event is being promoted as a collaboration between Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and UFC chief Dana White.
Joshua and Fury will come face-to-face at a news conference in London on September 30, as the build-up begins to one of the most anticipated fights in British boxing history. Joshua, 36, posted on Instagram that he is "inspiring a generation". Fury, 38, has yet to comment on the announcement. The event is expected to be a significant moment in boxing history, with both fighters bringing 66 wins, 52 knockouts, and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring.
The Principality Stadium has a track record of hosting late-night boxing events, including Joe Calzaghe’s fight with Mikkel Kessler in November 2007, which began at 01:00 GMT. This precedent may be relevant given that the main event could take place in the early hours of Saturday morning in the UK, with organisers considering a late start to cater for audiences in the United States. Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff Council officials have welcomed the fight, citing its potential to reinforce the city’s reputation for staging major events and bring a significant economic boost.
London’s Wembley Stadium and New York’s Madison Square Garden were initially considered to stage the fight, but both presented issues before Cardiff emerged as an alternative. Joshua had been pushing for the fight to take place in the UK and has got his wish. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, expressed gratitude to the UK public for their support, stating that they “couldn’t have got this over the line without you”.
The involvement of Dana White, who fronts Zuffa Boxing, is notable, given that Hearn had previously expressed reservations about White's involvement in promoting the fight. However, White has emphasized the significance of the event, stating that the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history. Turki Alalshikh also expressed his happiness in making the fight happen for the fans, describing it as "one of the biggest fights in boxing history".
The former two-time world champions had already signed contracts for the bout earlier this year, but the date and venue had yet to be confirmed. The fight is expected to be a major event, with both fighters looking to make a significant impact in the boxing world. The build-up to the fight is set to begin in earnest with the news conference on September 30.
The event is set to be a major spectacle, with a significant economic boost expected for Cardiff. The Principality Stadium has the capacity to host large events, and the fight is expected to draw a global audience. With both fighters in top form, the stage is set for an exciting and highly anticipated bout.
Key points
- The fight will be broadcast globally on Netflix.
- The event is being promoted as a collaboration between Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and UFC chief Dana White.
- The fight will take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
