A high-profile heavyweight rivalry spanning more than a decade will finally be settled at long last on UK soil in December, barring any more issues that threaten to derail the delicate agreement - one that apparently does not contain a rematch clause on either side - negotiated by Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.
asserted
that → span → Alalshikh
Though unquestionably now several years overdue and both men undisputedly beyond the peak of their respective fighting powers with neither holding any world titles, there remains incredible interest in a mammoth showdown for the ages that will be watched around the world on Netflix.
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that → hold → Netflix
An opening press conference between the pair in London was a surprisingly tame and cordial affair with a distinct lack of acrimony, particularly shocking given that the whole fight had appeared in serious jeopardy just hours after the official announcement due to the bitter feud between Eddie Hearn and Dana White.
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fight → open → Hearn
The official naming of White - who was not present at the press conference due to existing commitments around Dana White's Contender Series in Las Vegas - as a co-promoter of the bout drew a furious reaction from Hearn, who claimed that the UFC president and Zuffa Boxing chief could not be involved due to the terms of the contract.
uncertain
president → exist → contract
Fury, for his part, said he had removed that particular stipulation from his own fight deal as he welcomed White’s involvement in the promotion, taking aim at Joshua and Hearn and accusing them of trying to back out amid sensational reports that he could instead fight three-weight world champion David Benavidez, or that the main event could be replaced entirely by Terence Crawford coming out of retirement to face Ryan Garcia.
uncertain
Crawford → say → Garcia
Hearn has also stated that it was only Joshua’s unrelenting stance that ensured the decision was eventually made to stage the so-called ‘Battle of Britain’ in the UK, following a concerted initial push to take it to Madison Square Garden in New York, which understandably caused such uproar among the British boxing fraternity.
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which → state → fraternity
Fury comes into the contest with two fights under his belt since ending his latest 16-month retirement from boxing that followed painful back-to-back defeats by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, first comfortably outpointing Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April in a fight that Joshua watched from ringside, before angering Fury by refusing his invitation to step into the ring afterwards.
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Joshua → come → ring
He then competed in a charity fight against veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand in July, dominating and forcing his 46-year-old opponent to retire after seven rounds in front of a crowd of only 1,500 fans.
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He → compete → fans
The very next day, Joshua recovered from two shock early knockdowns against the little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga in an almighty scare in Jeddah to produce a second-round stoppage that rescued the fight with Fury.
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that → recover → Fury
It was Joshua’s first outing since taking six rounds to knock out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami in December, having later been a passenger in a fatal car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his two close friends and team members Latif "Latz" Ayodele and Sina Ghami.
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that → take → friends
Fury vs Joshua date, start time and venue
Fury vs Joshua is scheduled to take place on Saturday December 11, 2026 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
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Fury → schedule → Cardiff
It will be Fury’s first fight at the home of Welsh rugby, but Joshua has competed there twice previously - stopping late replacement opponent Carlos Takam in October 2017 before then outpointing Joseph Parker at the same venue five months later.
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Joshua → compete → venue
An exact start time for the main event has yet to be confirmed, but it is expected that it will begin in the early hours of the morning UK time - most likely at 2am with the fully-retractable roof at the Principality closed on a cold winter’s night - on Sunday, December 12 in order to cater primarily for a US television audience.
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roof → have → audience
However, that is currently understood to be subject to negotiation, according to Fury’s manager Spencer Brown.
Fury vs Joshua undercard
The undercard for Fury vs Joshua has yet to be confirmed, but it has been said that it will feature “marquee fighters from around the world”.
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it → understand → world
A whole host of big-name boxers have been linked to the event, including the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Shakur Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez, Jack Catterall, Keyshawn Davis, Richardson Hitchins, Deontay Wilder, Agit Kabayel, Filip Hrgovic, Rico Verhoeven, Hamzah Sheeraz and many more.
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host → link → Pacquiao
Fury vs Joshua will be broadcast live and exclusive around the world on Netflix.
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Fury → broadcast → Netflix
Netflix members will be able to watch the event through their normal monthly subscription at no extra cost.
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members → watch → cost
A subscription to Netflix currently costs from £7.99 a month in the UK.
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subscription → cost → UK
You won’t miss anything on fight night with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Fury vs Joshua tickets
Are there any titles on the line in Fury vs Joshua?
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You → miss → Joshua
Neither man carries a title into this bout therefore, though the WBA are putting a special ‘super’ heavyweight belt on the line, which was held aloft by Turki Alalshikh during the face-off at the first press conference.
Fury vs Joshua prediction
Practically every boxing fan has gone constantly back and forth with their prediction for this super-fight over the years, depending on how each man is faring at any given time.
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man → carry → time
But at this stage of their respective illustrious careers, it has become increasingly difficult to see just how Joshua can win.
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Joshua → become → careers
While he evidently still packs a hell of a punch, as both Jake Paul and Kristian Prenga will attest, Fury has never been stopped and has repeatedly shown a remarkable resilience in the face of sheer power - just ask Deontay Wilder.
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Fury → pack → Wilder
While evidently some way past his best himself now, Fury remains such an awkward customer who will not allow slower big hitters to pin him down and let fly.
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hitters → remain → him
Joshua is unlikely to be able to cope with his movement, footwork and constant feints, while Fury will take great heart from his rival being floored twice in quick succession by an unheralded opponent in Prenga last time out.
We expect Fury to battle to a comfortable decision victory in a fight that will certainly not lack for sheer tension, but may be notably short on fireworks despite so many years of massive hype.
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that → cope → hype
Fury to win on points.
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Fury → win → points
Fury vs Joshua odds
Fury to win: 8/15
Joshua to win: 8/5
Draw: 20/1
Fury to win on points/by decision: 3/1
Fury to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 13/10
Joshua to win on points/by decision: 7/1
Joshua to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 13/5
asserted
Joshua → win → knockout
The Aporia
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