Anthony Joshua has admitted this year has been the toughest of his life. Joshua was involved in a tragic car crash in Nigeria last Christmas which killed two of his best friends. The heavyweight walked away with minor injuries and resumed his career in July when he stopped Kristian Prenga in the second round having been dropped in the first.
Emotional social media post
Joshua will take on bitter rival Tyson Fury in Cardiff on December 11 after the long-awaited showdown was finally confirmed. And ahead of his face-off with Fury next week, Joshua took to social media to pour his heart out.
"These last nine months have been the toughest times of my life. I'll keep pressing on until I got no gas left to give and the angels of death come looking for me," he wrote.
Rivalry heats up
Joshua had been the first of the rivals to react to the news, stating on Instagram: "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. I am inspiring a generation."
Joshua's words were a reference to the repeated taunts he has faced from Fury on social media that included being branded a "coward" while he and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn held out for the bout to be hosted in the UK.
Negotiations and venue
Initially proposed for a November date at Wembley Stadium, attention switched to New York on the 20th of the same month with the aim of securing the largest possible audience in Netflix's biggest market of America. Each fighter having separate agreements with Sela, the Saudi state-owned promotional company financing the event, complicated negotiations with their contracts stipulating different locations for their first meeting.
As the process stalled amid Hearn demanding Joshua's purse be increased to reflect the additional tax paid for boxing in the United States, attention returned to the UK with the 80,000 capacity Principality Stadium's roof removing any concern over the weather.
Now Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has announced the details have been ironed out for the two foremost British heavyweights of their generation to collide with The Ring and UFC boss Dana White collaborating as promoters.
Alalshikh said: "Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history. I'm very happy to make this fight happen for the fans."
