Fury vs Joshua Set for Dec. 11 in Cardiff
Joshua and Fury are scheduled to meet in Cardiff on Dec. 11, 2026, fulfilling the fight Eddie Hearn proposed after Joshua’s 2024 loss to Daniel Dubois.
Hearn’s 2024 Case for the Fight
Joshua’s loss to Dubois at Wembley on Sept. 21, 2024, ended his immediate push for a third world heavyweight title. Hearn, his longtime promoter, said Joshua should consider the Fury fight even after the defeat, describing it as the biggest matchup available to them. He also advised Joshua to wait for Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk before settling on his next move. At that point, Joshua–Fury was a promoter’s proposal, not a signed bout. Sky Sports reported Hearn’s comments.
The Usyk Rematch Changed the Picture
Fury did not emerge from the December 2024 rematch with Usyk as champion. Usyk won a unanimous decision, repeating his earlier victory and keeping the unified heavyweight titles. The result made the old article’s suggestion that Fury might offer Joshua a title defense obsolete. Joshua did not fight Fury next; his route back included separate fights and another comeback after the Dubois loss. MMA Fighting’s event report recapped the Usyk win.
A Long-Rumored Matchup Becomes Official
After further twists in both careers, the matchup was formally announced in September 2026. Joshua and Fury are scheduled to box on Dec. 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Reuters reported the announcement and noted that the pair’s long-awaited meeting had been discussed for years. The venue has also confirmed it will host the event. That turns Hearn’s 2024 pitch into a real date on the calendar, while leaving the most important question unanswered until fight night: which former champion can impose his style in the ring?
The buildup will naturally focus on the rivalry and the years the bout took to make. The sporting stakes are more direct: Joshua and Fury have each held world heavyweight titles, and both will enter with recent career chapters behind them. With the date and venue set, attention can shift from whether the fight will happen to preparation, matchup, and the eventual result.
Reuters’ confirmation of the fight and the Principality Stadium event listing provide the latest date and venue information.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
