Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to clash in a late-night heavyweight showdown at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, December 12, after a dispute over the venue was resolved. The two rivals will share a ring for the first time, despite years of verbal exchanges throughout their careers.
The fight was initially speculated to head to Madison Square Garden in New York, but a clause in Joshua's contract required the bout to be held on British soil. The Principality Stadium, home of Welsh rugby, emerged as the leading candidate and has now been confirmed as the venue.
Venue U-Turn and Contract Complications
Joshua insisted on a UK venue when his contract was drawn up, while Fury signed a separate agreement with different details. Saudi Arabian promotional company Sela, Newcastle's principal front-of-shirt sponsor for three years, and streaming giant Netflix are bankrolling the fight. Both preferred the United States to suit a global audience.
Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn held firm, leading to the Principality Stadium, an 80,000-capacity arena with a fully retractable roof. Wembley was ruled out due to December weather and licensing issues.
Licensing and Curfew Challenges
The bout remains subject to licence, as the Principality Stadium operates under a 1am curfew for boxing events when the roof is closed. Cardiff Council revealed earlier this month that no application had been submitted to extend it, with any request requiring 28 days to be processed.
To alter the curfew, the premises licence holder can submit an application for a licence variation, which must be publicly advertised for at least 28 consecutive days. Representations may be submitted during that period, and if any are received, a hearing must be convened by the Council's Licensing Sub-Committee.
Sela's Role and Boxing Focus
Sela became synonymous with Newcastle's rise in the Premier League and their Carabao Cup victory. When their three-year partnership ended in June, the company stated their work in sport would continue. One reason behind ending the £25m-a-year deal was to focus on boxing.
Sela has delivered boxing cards such as Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn in London and Terence Crawford vs Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Nevada. The company launched its international headquarters in London last year and branched into other sports, delivering the London Premier Padel P1 this summer.
The Saudi-based company linked up with Newcastle in 2023 and delivered an award-winning partnership, named the most-awarded football sponsorship in the world in 2024, claiming a record 150 awards. Their initiatives included the Unsilence the Crowd programme, the Sela Sound Shirt for deaf or hard-of-hearing fans, and drone and light shows at St James' Park.
The path to the Joshua-Fury fight was complicated by separate agreements with Sela rather than a joint contract. Joshua's insistence on a UK venue threatened to scupper plans, but Fury relented and organisers eventually agreed.
Joshua wrote on X: "The quietest ones often pull the strings. Those who appear least involved may hold the greatest control. Let them shout first, the wisest wait until the final move."
Turki Al-Sheikh, the backer of Sela and Zuffa Boxing, wrote on X: "For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight. Back in April, I said that any announcement would come from me. I can now confirm that Fury Vs Joshua will be coming to the UK, as I promised British boxing fans. The time for talking is over."
