Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is finally official. After years of waiting, British boxing fans and the wider sporting world will get to see the heavyweight icons share a ring – and determine who is better.
Fury vs Joshua will take place on 11 December in Cardiff, after a wait that has spanned the best part of a decade, to conclude a particularly difficult final stretch of negotiations.
It was confirmed earlier this year that the bout had been signed, five years after it was first made. In 2021, the British super-fight collapsed, and it looked at risk of falling apart again this year, due to a dispute over the location.
After a suggestion that a Wembley date would need 2am ring walks, talk turned to the contest occurring in New York City, with Fury’s contract allowing a US venue. However, “AJ” dug in his heels, with his contract demanding a fight in the UK.
Ultimately, the fight will head to the Principality Stadium, so how has the boxing world reacted? Find out with our live blog below.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
- Fury vs Joshua confirmed for Friday 11 December in Cardiff
- British rivals to finally meet with Netflix showing heavyweight contest
- Lengthy talks settled after 'AJ' and promoter Eddie Hearn fought against New York as host
- Opinion: Fury vs Joshua is too late – but that’s not its biggest problem
- Steve Bunce: Think this is bad? Tyson vs Holyfield took 12 years to make
Joshua and Fury's records
14:24 , Alex Pattle
Joshua and Fury are both former two-time world heavyweight champions.
Joshua’s pro record stands at 30-4 (27 KOs), with his losses having come at the hands of Andy Ruiz, Oleksandr Usyk (x2) and Daniel Dubois.
Ruiz and Dubois stopped AJ, whose losses to Usyk came on points.
Meanwhile, Fury is 36-2-1 (25 KOs) as a pro.
Both of his losses were decisions against Usyk, while he drew controversially with Deontay Wilder before those defeats.
Friday night fight
14:16 , Alex Pattle
As you might have noticed, 11 December is a Friday.
Netflix has been known to show its fights on Friday nights, since its entry into boxing over the last couple of years.
Steve Bunce: Think this is bad? Tyson vs Holyfield took 12 years to make
14:09 , Alex Pattle
Columnist Steve Bunce writes:
“In October 1989, the contracts for a fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield were signed and sealed for a fight in the summer of 1990. The pair finally met in November 1996.
“The story of how great heavyweight fights get made, collapse, surface again, vanish, and finally take place is one of boxing’s most ridiculous rituals.
“The Tyson and Holyfield saga was interrupted by prison, chaos outside the ring, shocking defeats in it, and the growing greed of all involved; the ongoing struggle to get Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the ring is not quite as dramatic, once you put it in perspective.”
More thoughts here:
Think Joshua vs Fury is bad? Tyson vs Holyfield took 12 years to make
Joshua to step up mind games with Fury’s ex-coach in his corner
14:02 , Alex Pattle
Joshua looks set to have Ben Davison in his corner for this long-awaited grudge match with Fury, who previously trained under the coach.
Davison guided “AJ” to stoppages of Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou between December 2023 and March 2024, before Daniel Dubois knocked out Joshua in September 2024.
Since then, Joshua has boxed twice, with team members of former rival Oleksandr Usyk in his corner – for a December stoppage of Jake Paul and a chaotic, two-round win over Kristian Prenga in July.
“Even when Ben wasn’t his principal trainer, he was working with him strategically, talking all the time,” said Hearn at the weekend.
“And I think he respects Ben a lot. Obviously there’s probably a feeling that Ben Davison knows Tyson Fury extremely well.
“For me, I think he’s one of the best trainers in the world. I don’t know AJ’s final decision to where he’s gonna locate his training camp, but Ben Davison will definitely be involved in that camp and that process.”
Davison coached Fury when the “Gypsy King” returned to boxing in 2018, following a two-and-a-half year hiatus.
Will Fury vs Joshua take place at 3am in Cardiff???
13:55 , Alex Pattle
“People talk about a 3am BST fight? I don’t think you’ll see the fight that late,” Hearn said on Saturday.
“But obviously there had to be conversations with the [Principality] Stadium about what’s possible and what is not possible.
“That’s probably a reason for the delay [of the fight announcement]: to make sure everything is boxed off with the council to have a slightly later start time.”
Hearn rejects White involvement despite today’s announcement
13:47 , Alex Pattle
Hearn previously said that Dana White could NOT be involved in this fight, yet White featured in the announcement today.
Hearn has now told The Independent: “We expect the contracts to be honoured and, unless we decide otherwise, Dana White cannot be involved in the fight.”
Hearn maintains White not involved in Fury v Joshua promotion despite announcement
Joshua vs Fury is too late – but that’s not the biggest problem behind this fight
13:40 , Alex Pattle
So, Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is much too late. Speak to any sports fan in the street, and that’s the prevalent point they’ll make. But it’s not just that the British super-fight is years too late; with a version of contracts initially signed this spring, the fight is months too late within this year alone; and despite Eddie Hearn playing down the idea of 3am ring walks in Cardiff, he wasn’t exactly emphatic – prepare for the fight to be hours too late, to serve an American audience.
When the two behemoths clash on 11 December, whether in the dead of night or in its doorway, they will meet in the twilight of their careers. This is no longer a fight to crown the greatest heavyweight of a generation.
What about a fight to crown the best British heavyweight in the sport right now? No, not even that.
Opinion:
Joshua vs Fury is too late – but that’s not the biggest problem behind this fight
Netflix to stream the fight
13:35 , Alex Pattle
Gabe Spitzer, Vice President of Global Live Sports & Entertainment at Netflix, said: “Fury vs. Joshua is a fight years in the making between two of boxing’s biggest stars.
“It has the rivalry, the stakes and the scale to capture the attention of sports fans around the world.
“Bringing massive live moments like this to a global audience is exactly what we want to do at Netflix, and we can’t wait for members everywhere to experience it live.”
Is UFC boss Dana White involved, despite Hearn's protests?
13:30 , Alex Pattle
Dana White is the UFC’s president and CEO, who launched the controversial Zuffa Boxing with Alalshikh this year.
White has just said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring.
“On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide– and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”
Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh comments on fight
13:25 , Alex Pattle
“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans.”
Betfair's opening odds for mega-fight
13:20 , Alex Pattle
Overall result
Fury 8/15
Draw 16/1
AJ 13/8
Means of win
Tyson Fury Points or Decision - 16/5
Fury TKO/KO/DQ - 13/10
Anthony Joshua by Dec/Tech Dec - 15/2
Joshua TKO/KO/DQ - 13/5
Fight to go the distance?
13/8 yes
4/9 no
Joshua, moments before the announcement...
13:15 , Alex Pattle
This is how Joshua teed up the announcement today:
The quietest ones often pull the strings. Those who appear least involved may hold the greatest control. Let them shout first, the wisest wait until the final move.
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 24, 2026
Yours truly, Anthony Joshua 🫡 pic.twitter.com/utUvKTsF90
Eddie Hearn reacts to Fury v Joshua announcement
13:11 , Jack Rathborn
Eddie Hearn has responded to the news that Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is official.
The Matchroom promoter, alongside Joshua, pushed back after a dispute over the venue, with Cardiff winning out over New York.
Hearn said: “WE DID IT. Forever indebted to the U.K. public for their support of Anthony Joshua, we couldn’t have got this over the line without you.”
Tyson Fury handed A-side of post against Anthony Joshua
13:06 , Jack Rathborn
Enough talk. Time to fight.
— Netflix (@netflix) September 24, 2026
TYSON FURY vs. ANTHONY JOSHUA.
Friday December 11.
LIVE from the UK – and only on Netflix. #FuryJoshua pic.twitter.com/dzd1ksQ6zF
Finally: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
13:05 , Jack Rathborn
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally fight one another, Saudi boxing supremo and Netflix have confirmed.
The two biggest British heavyweights of a generation clash in Cardiff on Friday 11 December.
After protracted negotiations, AJ and Fury will finally meet in the ring, though the contest may not settle the debate over which fighter was superior, given the how long it has taken for the pair to meet.
But both men remain at the heart of an enthralling division, follow all the latest reaction and debate.
