Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are closing in on a December 11 showdown at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with the long-awaited all-British heavyweight blockbuster reportedly nearing final approval.

The December 11 date has emerged as the preferred option after November 28 and December 4 were previously considered for the much-anticipated encounter. However, the fight is yet to receive its final official confirmation, with permits and other logistical issues still to be resolved. 

Reports indicate that Fury remains the final party expected to approve the latest arrangements, while an official announcement could follow as early as the end of the weekend.

The proposed event would have an unusual start time for a major UK boxing show, with the main event expected to begin at about 2am UK time to accommodate the American broadcast audience.

That timing means Fury and Joshua could enter the ring in the early hours of Saturday, December 12, despite the event being officially scheduled for December 11.

The choice of Cardiff follows weeks of uncertainty over the venue. Wembley Stadium was considered but its 11pm curfew created difficulties, while the Principality Stadium normally operates with a 10:30pm curfew. 

Organisers are reportedly seeking an exemption to allow the event to continue into the early hours, with the Welsh Government yet to give final approval.

The Principality Stadium has previously hosted major boxing events involving late starts designed to accommodate international television audiences.

New York’s Madison Square Garden had also emerged as an alternative venue, with reports indicating that some organisers favoured taking the fight to the United States because of the potential commercial returns.

Joshua, however, had a contractual commitment for the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, with promoter Eddie Hearn maintaining that the British heavyweight wanted to honour that agreement. 

Fury enters the proposed contest with a professional record of 36 wins, two defeats and one draw. The former heavyweight champion has rebuilt his career after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, returning to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov in April and Mariusz Wach in July, according to the PUNCH report. 

Joshua, meanwhile, has a 30-4 professional record and has been rebuilding since his knockout defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024. He subsequently stopped Jake Paul in December 2025 before overcoming Kristian Prenga in July.

The proposed Fury-Joshua encounter would bring together two of Britain’s most prominent heavyweight names and represents the latest stage in a rivalry that has generated significant interest for several years.

While December 11 is now the leading date under discussion, the fight remains subject to the outstanding permits, venue arrangements and formal announcement before it can be regarded as fully confirmed.