Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally meet in the ring when the two British heavyweight stars face off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
The highly anticipated bout, which has been more than a decade in the making, will be broadcast globally on Netflix.
BBC Sport reports that the main event could take place in the early hours of Saturday morning in the United Kingdom, with organisers considering a late start to accommodate viewers in the United States.
Joshua, 36, and Fury are scheduled to face the media at a news conference in London on Wednesday, September 30, as the promotional build-up to the fight begins.
“I am inspiring a generation,” Joshua posted on Instagram following the announcement, while Fury has yet to publicly comment.
The fight is being promoted through a collaboration between Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and UFC president Dana White.
“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together,” Alalshikh said.
“This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history. I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans.”
The former two-time world champions had signed contracts for the bout earlier this year, but the date and venue remained unconfirmed.
Wembley Stadium in London and Madison Square Garden in New York had emerged as leading options, but both venues presented logistical challenges before Cardiff became the preferred location.
The Principality Stadium has previously hosted late-night boxing events, including Joe Calzaghe’s 2007 bout against Mikkel Kessler, which began at 1am GMT.
Officials from the Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff Council welcomed the announcement, saying the fight would strengthen the city’s reputation as a host of major sporting events and could provide a significant economic boost.
Joshua had previously expressed a preference for the fight to be staged in the UK.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, said: “Forever indebted to the UK public for their support of Anthony Joshua. We couldn’t have got this over the line without you.”
White, who fronts Zuffa Boxing, is also involved in the promotion of the bout.
“For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamouring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring,” White said.
“On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide – and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”
However, neither Hearn nor Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, was quoted in Netflix’s official announcement. Hearn had previously expressed opposition to White’s involvement in promoting the fight.v
