Last updated by Jemima Todd on Monday 19th October 2026

For years, British boxing fans had the same argument: Fury or Joshua? At every opportunity, one's victory would revive negotiations, and yet another new opponent would interrupt them, and the question of who would win remained unanswered. Now, the British heavyweights are scheduled to meet at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 11 December 2026.

There were agreed terms, proposed dates and a fight that looked ready to happen in Saudi Arabia. Each time, something intervened. Now, Friday 11 December 2026 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff is the date set to end the debate.

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2015–2017: One Klitschko, two very different victories

Tyson Fury upset the heavyweight order in November 2015, outpointing Wladimir Klitschko in Düsseldorf to take the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

Seventeen months later, Anthony Joshua faced Klitschko at Wembley. Joshua climbed off the canvas to stop him in the eleventh round, delivering the kind of stadium fight that brings a sport to a wider audience.

Fury had beaten the long-reigning champion through movement and control. Joshua had won a dramatic heavyweight battle. Fans had two contrasting performances to compare — and two British fighters they wanted to see face each other.

2020: Between them, they had every belt

By early 2020, the stakes could hardly have been higher.

Joshua had reclaimed his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr. Fury had stopped Deontay Wilder to win the WBC championship. Between them, they held all four major heavyweight belts.

A meeting could produce an undisputed champion.

In June, Eddie Hearn said financial terms had been agreed for a two-fight deal. There were still contracts, venues and other commitments to resolve, but the prospect had moved beyond call-outs. Both camps were working towards making it happen.

2021: An August date — then the Wilder ruling

Agreements were signed in March. In May, Fury announced plans to face Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Saturday 14 August. After years of discussion, supporters finally had a date to look towards. However, an arbitration ruling required Fury to fight Wilder again.

The proposed Joshua contest unravelled, with Joshua instead facing Oleksandr Usyk in September, which lead to the loss of his titles. Fury knocked out Wilder in their October trilogy fight. Within months, the championship picture that had made Fury vs Joshua so compelling had changed completely.

2022: Another offer, another missed opportunity

The following September, talks restarted with a different proposition: Joshua challenging Fury for the WBC title.

Joshua’s team said it had accepted the proposed terms, including a 60–40 purse split in Fury’s favour, for a December meeting. Once again, the public signs suggested progress, but a completed agreement failed to follow.

Fury fought Derek Chisora instead. Another year ended with fans discussing the fight they still had not seen.

2026: Two July wins keep the plans alive

By now, both Fury and Joshua had gone down two different trajectories. Fury had lost twice to Usyk in 2024, while Joshua had suffered a stoppage defeat against Daniel Dubois.

Before facing each other, both had July assignments to complete. Fury stopped Mariusz Wach in Thailand. The following evening, Joshua’s plans nearly came apart against Kristian Prenga: two first-round knockdowns put him in trouble before he recovered to win in round two.

Both had won. Attention returned to the familiar question: could the teams finally get their fight over the line?

September 2026: Cardiff gets the fight

On Thursday 24 September, Principality Stadium confirmed Fury vs Joshua for December.

Six days later, the rivals appeared together at their London launch press conference. Netflix confirmed global live coverage. The build-up now had a venue, a date and both fighters facing each other in public.

After the false starts of previous years, supporters could begin planning for Cardiff.

October 2026: A world title joins the rivalry

The latest development adds another prize. Frank Warren has confirmed that the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title is set to be on the line.

This is a different fight from the undisputed showdown proposed in 2021. Both men have taken defeats, rebuilt and reached a later stage of their careers. But the question that first made the contest so appealing remains unanswered. December is the opportunity to answer it.

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