Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally share a ring in Britain, with Cardiffâs Principality Stadium confirmed as the venue for their long-awaited heavyweight fight on 11 December.
The all-British clash has been more than a decade in the making. The pair have not fought since a sparring session in 2010, and fans have spent years watching negotiations collapse, contracts get signed and proposed contests fall apart.
Now there is a date, a stadium and a global broadcast deal, with Netflix set to show the fight around the world.
A fight years in the making
Joshua and Fury had already signed contracts earlier this year, but the date and venue still needed to be settled. Londonâs Wembley Stadium and New Yorkâs Madison Square Garden were considered, before Cardiff emerged as the chosen location.
The fighters will meet at a news conference in London on Wednesday, 30 September, as the build-up begins. Joshua, 36, has said he is âinspiring a generationâ, while Fury, 38, has yet to comment on the announcement.
The bout is being promoted by The Ring, led by Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh, in collaboration with UFC chief Dana White. Alalshikh described the contest as a meeting of two of the best heavyweights of their generation.
Could Cardiff host another late-night classic?
The exact start time has not been confirmed. Organisers are considering a late UK start so the main event can be shown to audiences in the United States, meaning the ringwalks could take place during the early hours of Saturday morning.
That would not be new for major boxing in Britain. Joe Calzagheâs 2007 fight with Mikkel Kessler at the Principality Stadium began at 01:00 GMT, while other high-profile bouts involving Ricky Hatton and Calzaghe have also been scheduled deep into the night for American television.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has played down suggestions that the fight could begin as late as 03:00 GMT. A ringwalk around 01:00 or 02:00 would correspond to an evening start on the US east coast.
A major night for Cardiff
Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff Council officials have welcomed the announcement. They say the event will strengthen Cardiffâs reputation for staging major occasions and could provide a significant economic boost, although some operational details still need to be finalised.
The Principality Stadium gives the organisers a venue capable of handling one of the biggest events in British boxing. For supporters, it also means the fight will take place in the UK after Joshua had pushed for a home contest.
Between them, the former two-time world champions bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. The winner will claim a major place in heavyweight history, while fans will finally get the contest they have been waiting years to see.
Why this is good news for Britain
Hosting Fury v Joshua in Cardiff should bring thousands of boxing fans to Wales and could give the cityâs economy a sizeable lift. It also keeps one of the biggest fights in British boxing on home soil, giving local supporters the chance to attend rather than travelling abroad.
