Eddie Hearn has revealed Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are expected to make their ring walks at around 1am when they finally meet at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, and the promoter wants hometown boy Joe Cordina on the undercard.
The long-awaited heavyweight showdown has been confirmed for Friday, December 11, with the main event set to take place in the early hours of Saturday morning to accommodate the American television audience.
Ring-walk timing and venue
Hearn said the current expectation is for the ring walks to take place at around 1am or 1.30am, although he admitted the start time could drift towards 2am, which would put them in step with the time Joe Calzaghe took on Mikkel Kessler in 2007.
"I think similar times to Calzaghe's boxed," Hearn said on his Matchroom YouTube channel. "I think that's going to be decided by Netflix and Turki Alalshikh (the founder of fight promoters Zuffa Boxing). It's my understanding it will be around 1am, 1.30am. But again, if it creeps to two, I don't know."
"Friday night, so perfect for people to get down there, travel after work. I think it's quite unique because on a Saturday, boxing would start around 4pm, 5pm. So you're really looking at boxing probably starting around 8pm or 9pm. Gives everybody a chance to get there."
"Obviously, it's going to be the hottest ticket in British sport and details will be announced soon. But yeah, a slightly later time for a big old party in Cardiff."
UK fight secured after battle
The Principality Stadium was ultimately chosen after a long-running battle to ensure the fight was staged in Britain rather than the United States. There had been significant pressure to take Joshua and Fury across the Atlantic, with Hearn revealing that Joshua had a clause in his contract insisting the fight take place in the UK.
Hearn said Joshua had also turned down "a lot of money" to ensure the fight remained on British soil. "I think ultimately this fight belongs in the UK," Hearn said. "Don't get me wrong, I love a few quid and AJ's turned down a lot of money to keep this fight in the UK. But this is so much bigger than that. This is a legacy for sport in the UK and Britain."
"I just feel like I wouldn't be able to look people in the eye if I was part of the movement to take this fight to the US." Hearn claimed the battle to keep the fight in Britain had been particularly difficult, but said the support of British boxing fans helped Joshua stand firm.
He also believes Cardiff is the perfect setting for the occasion, with the roof at the Principality Stadium allowing the fight to take place indoors while still accommodating a huge crowd. "When you walk out in front of 80-odd thousand at the Millennium Stadium, trust me when I say the battle will be worth it," Hearn said.
"The only reason this fight is in the UK is because of Anthony Joshua and myself. That's it. We were the only two people that were fighting for this fight to be in the UK. And we did it."
Home advantage and undercard hopes
Hearn also believes the atmosphere generated by the Cardiff venue will provide Joshua with an extra lift. The former two-time world champion has boxed at the stadium twice before, beating Carlos Takam in 2017 before defeating Joseph Parker in a heavyweight unification fight the following year.
"I think it's the best stadium in the world, obviously, with the roof," Hearn said. "I mean, the noise. When the Millennium Stadium came in, again, that gave AJ a little lift as well because he remembers the Takam fight, remembers unifying against Joseph Parker there, and he absolutely loved his experience fighting in Cardiff. He's over the moon."
With the venue confirmed, attention will now turn to the undercard, and Hearn has made no secret of who he would like to see given an opportunity on the biggest night in Welsh boxing for years. The Matchroom chief wants Cardiff-born Cordina to feature, with the former two-time world champion potentially facing Abdullah Mason.
"I'd love to see Joe get an opportunity on the card," Hearn said. "Obviously, we've got a lot of Welsh fighters coming through as well. We've got so many young fighters who want to be a part of the night. I know they'll want to be an international focus on it, you know, I think of America, but match him with the Brits. You know, we're in Wales. Give Joe Cordina his shot. It's a hell of a fight."
Hearn also suggested Cordina would be willing to take on Shakur Stevenson should that opportunity arise. In July, Cordina pleaded not guilty to two counts of assaulting a man by beating outside a petrol station in Cardiff earlier this year. The incident involving the 34-year-old is alleged to have happened outside Pentwyn service station at Pentwyn Road on February 27, 2026. He is due to stand trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court in October.
Hearn's prediction
The biggest question for Hearn, though, remains what happens when Joshua and Fury finally share a ring after more than a decade of anticipation. Hearn believes Joshua is entering the fight with an especially strong desire to stop his long-time rival.
"I've never known AJ want to knock someone out so badly," Hearn said. "I can't remember the last time, maybe Dillian Whyte, where he went into a fight where it was like, 'I just want to iron this guy out.' He's envisaged this moment. He's seen this moment for over 10 years, probably longer. The first time they laced up the gloves and AJ battered Fury in sparring, he's been waiting to get this moment for real. So December 11, we get our chance."
Hearn accepts Fury will provide Joshua with a major test but believes his fighter has the tools to finish the contest inside the distance. And when asked for a specific round prediction, Hearn predicted: "Anthony Joshua inside four rounds."
