The highly anticipated Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury heavyweight showdown is reportedly closing in on a December 11 date at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with permits and final arrangements understood to be 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.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury Cardiff Date Emerges
The proposed Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury bout is expected to begin at approximately 2am UK time on December 12, according to reports.
The unusually late start would accommodate Netflix and United States broadcast schedules while allowing the event to take place in the United Kingdom.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium normally has a 10:30pm curfew, creating a significant logistical challenge for a fight expected to begin in the early hours.
Wembley Stadium, which had also been considered as a possible venue, reportedly operates under an 11pm curfew.
The venue’s operating restrictions have reportedly been one of the major obstacles in finalising the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight.
Reports indicate that the Welsh Government is considering an exemption that would allow the event to continue beyond the stadium’s normal curfew, although approval is still pending.
The Principality Stadium has previously hosted boxing events that extended into the early hours. One notable example was Joe Calzaghe’s 2007 victory over Mikkel Kessler.
A successful exemption would remove one of the final significant barriers to staging the Joshua-Fury blockbuster in Cardiff.
Cardiff was not the only location considered during negotiations for the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight.
BoxingScene previously 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.
The group reportedly believed a United States-hosted event could generate a larger audience and greater revenue.
However, Joshua’s contract reportedly requires the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, with the former unified champion and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, maintaining that position.
Hearn has previously said Joshua could have earned considerably more from a US-based fight but insisted that the contractual position remained unchanged.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury Contract Dispute
The proposed Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury showdown has also been accompanied by public disagreements over negotiations.
Hearn rejected criticism from Dana White that he was delaying the fight, arguing that his position was based on honouring an existing agreement.
The promoter has maintained that Joshua’s side had already signed its contract and wanted the agreed terms respected.
With Cardiff now reportedly emerging as the preferred destination, the venue dispute appears to have moved closer to resolution, subject to the remaining approvals.
Fury enters the proposed Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight with a professional record of 36-2-1, according to the information provided.
The former heavyweight champion rebuilt his career after suffering consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
He subsequently returned to action with victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April and Mariusz Wach in July.
A fight against Joshua would represent another major chapter in Fury’s career and one of the most commercially significant heavyweight matchups available.
Joshua, meanwhile, reportedly holds a professional record of 30-4.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has also rebuilt his career following his knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Joshua returned with a sixth-round stoppage victory over Jake Paul in December 2025 before defeating Kristian Prenga by second-round stoppage in July.
The Prenga fight was not without drama, however, as Joshua was reportedly knocked down twice during the opening round before recovering to secure the stoppage.
Interest in the proposed Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury showdown is reportedly already strong in Cardiff.
Several hotels close to the Principality Stadium are said to have limited availability or no availability around the proposed fight weekend.
If the December 11 date is formally confirmed, the event would bring one of boxing’s most anticipated heavyweight rivalries to Wales.
For now, however, the fight remains subject to the completion of the outstanding permits, venue arrangements and final approvals before an official announcement can be made.
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