The much-anticipated heavyweight blockbuster clash between two-time World Unified Heavyweight Championship, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, is closing in on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with permits and final arrangements reportedly the remaining hurdles before an official announcement.
According to NoSmokeBoxing, citing veteran boxing writer Dan Rafael, December 11 has emerged as the preferred date after November 28 and December 4 were previously considered.
Fury is reportedly the final party expected to approve the latest changes, with an official announcement and press conference potentially coming later this month.
The proposed bout is expected to begin at around 2am UK time on December 12, with the late start designed to accommodate Netflix and United States broadcast schedules.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium has a usual 10:30pm curfew, while Wembley Stadium, which was also considered, operates under an 11pm curfew.
Reports indicate that the Welsh Government is considering an exemption, although approval is still pending. The Principality Stadium has previously hosted fights extending into the early hours, including Joe Calzaghe’s 2007 victory over Mikkel Kessler.
Venue had been a major obstacle in negotiations.
BoxingScene reported that Madison Square Garden in New York, with a proposed November 20 date, had been favoured by financier Turki Alalshikh, Netflix, and Dana White, who believed a US-hosted fight could generate a larger audience and greater revenue.
However, Joshua’s contract reportedly stipulated that the bout must take place in the United Kingdom, with the fighter and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, refusing to change that position.
“That is why, unfortunately for these people, the fight will not be taking place in America, because Anthony Joshua is not a sell-out,” Hearn told iFL TV.
Hearn also claimed Joshua could have earned considerably more by fighting in the United States but said the support received on social media reinforced their position.
The promoter has also rejected White’s criticism that he was holding up the fight.
“Dana White has tried to get involved in a fight that he has nothing to do with. All we have ever done is say, ‘We have signed our contract. Just honour the contract that we have signed,’” Hearn said.
Fury, 36-2-1, has rebuilt since suffering consecutive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. He has since returned to action with victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April and Mariusz Wach in July.
Joshua, meanwhile, is 30-4 as a professional and has rebuilt his career since his knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round in December 2025 before defeating Kristian Prenga by second-round stoppage in July, despite being knocked down twice in the opening round.
Interest in a potential Cardiff showdown is already reportedly high, with several hotels around the Principality Stadium said to have limited or no availability around the proposed fight weekend.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
