Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Paul Abbandonato

Wales v Argentina rugby clash causes complications as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look to nail down Principality Stadium date

Wales' four autumn games could see the planned Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua world heavyweight blockbuster bout pushed back to just eight days before Christmas.

According to the Mail, world champ Fury's promoter Frank Warren has proposed Saturday November 12 for the date of the fight, which is expected to go ahead at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

However, Joshua's camp feel that is too soon after his recent gruelling battle with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and want the date pushed back until Saturday December 17.

READ MORE: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua December UK fight will only be at Principality

The complication over the date is likely to see challenger Joshua get his way, because Wayne Pivac's Wales already have the Principality Stadium booked on Fury's preferred date with an autumn clash inked in against Argentina that day.

Wales also meet New Zealand the week before, Georgia the following week and wind up their autumn campaign with a November 26 clash against Australia.

If Fury sticks with the November 12 date he is said to want, it would mean the two fighters needing to find an alternative venue.

Warren sent written terms for the Battle of Britain clash to Joshua's own promoter Eddie Hearn, with a 60-40 purse split in favour of Fury.

The Mail say Joshua and Hearn have accepted the terms, 'but stated the fight must take place on December 17 rather than the November 12th date suggested by Warren.'

Welsh Rugby Union bosses are keen for the showpiece fight to go ahead at their iconic Cardiff venue, knowing a sell-out crowd is guaranteed.

However, Wales clearly need to prioritise their own rugby matches and the clash with the Pumas would be hard to switch with tickets having already been sold. Wales will expect a crowd in excess of 50,000 for that game, particularly if they have pulled off a decent results versus an in crisis New Zealand team seven days earlier.

Fury took to social media earlier this week to throw down the gauntlet to Joshua by offering to 'give you an opportunity to fight me for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world, and the lineal championship, in the next few months'.

He continued: "You're coming off a 12-round fight so you're match fit, you're ready. I'm giving you a few months' notice. If you're interested, I will send you the date over, and we can rumble. A battle of Britain for the heavyweight championship of the world. Let me know if you're interested. If not, I will select another opponent."

Joshua is interested and according to Hearn the fight needs to take place in the UK, but the issue over dates will need to be resolved. Because of the Welsh rugby matches, the challenger looks in the stronger position, unless the fight is moved to a money-spinning venue in the middle east.

"You're leaving a huge amount of money behind to do the fight in the UK, but, guess what, these two also have a huge amount of money," said Hearn. "I believe this fight will happen. Will it happen in December? I have my doubts, but we're ready to talk."

Read more:

Tyson Fury spotted eating breakfast in Valleys café

Tyson Fury just wowed at WWE's Clash at the Castle with epic intervention

Anthony Joshua explains why he stormed out of ring before bizarre rant following Oleksandr Usyk defeat

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.