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What We Know About the Fury-Joshua Fight, Set for December 11
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua confirmed Wednesday in London that they will fight Dec. 11 in Cardiff, Wales, ending years of false starts for a matchup British boxing fans have waited roughly a decade to see, according to Al Jazeera.
What Did Fury and Joshua Confirm in London?
Fury, 38, and Joshua, 36, appeared together at a media event in London on Sept. 30 to formally lock in the fight date and venue after months of rumors that it might collapse again. Both men are former heavyweight world champions. Netflix holds the global streaming rights to the bout.
Why Did the Fight Take So Long to Happen?
The two camps first agreed to a two-fight deal in 2020, then signed contracts a year later for an undisputed heavyweight title showdown. That plan fell apart when American former champion Deontay Wilder won an arbitration case forcing Fury into a trilogy fight in 2021. In 2022, Joshua reportedly accepted a 60-40 purse split favoring Fury, but that deal also collapsed, Al Jazeera reported. During the delay, unbeaten Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk beat Joshua twice and then beat Fury twice, further complicating the matchup's path.
Who Is Promoting the December Bout?
The fight is billed as a joint effort between Saudi sports official Turki Alshikh's Ring magazine and UFC owner Dana White, who co-founded the boxing promotion Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, according to Al Jazeera. Notably absent from the announcement were Joshua's longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn, and Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, who had run point on earlier negotiations.
What Are Fury and Joshua Saying About the Delay?
Asked in London whether the fight had come too late for both men's careers, Fury said:
"Is it too late?... It's the icing on the cake of two great careers."
Fury also placed blame on Joshua for the years of delay, saying, "You've been crying behind the scenes to get out of this fight. I've checkmated you. You have to fight. I've said I'll fight anywhere," according to Al Jazeera. Reports cited by the outlet say Joshua had instead insisted the bout take place in the United Kingdom so home fans could attend.
Fight at a Glance
- Fight date: Dec. 11, 2026
- Venue: Cardiff, Wales
- Confirmed: Sept. 30, 2026, in London
- Fury's age: 38
- Joshua's age: 36
- Negotiations began: 2020, with a two-fight deal
- Streaming rights: Netflix
The matchup pits two fighters who have each held multiple heavyweight titles but have also each lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk in recent years, a factor fueling the "too late" question Al Jazeera posed in its explainer.
Artiglio is A coming-soon iPhone chief of staff for briefings and drafts. Not on the App Store yet.
Questions
When is the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight?
The fight is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2026, in Cardiff, Wales, according to Al Jazeera.
Why did it take so long for Fury and Joshua to fight?
Negotiations stalled repeatedly since 2020 over contract disputes, a Deontay Wilder arbitration ruling that forced Fury into a trilogy fight, and a collapsed purse-split deal in 2022, Al Jazeera reported.
Who is promoting the Fury-Joshua fight?
The bout is tied to Turki Alshikh's Ring magazine and UFC owner Dana White's Zuffa Boxing promotion, with Netflix holding global streaming rights, per Al Jazeera.