Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua finally agree all-British heavyweight blockbuster

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are to meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11 after reaching an agreement following months of protracted negotiations to stage the biggest fight in British boxing history.

A heavyweight showdown that has been over a decade in the making will be screened on Netflix at no additional cost to subscribers and take place in the early hours of the Saturday morning, with a time for ring walks yet to be finalised.

Joshua was 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.

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.”

One key element that remains outstanding, however, is arranging any changes to the Principality Stadium’s premises license that might be needed.

While Joshua and Fury no longer operate at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division, interest in finally seeing two household names meet in the ring remains high and each will be desperate to secure bragging rights over their long-term rival.

Joshua has been knocked down a total of six times in his last two fights against recognised boxers – against Daniel Dubois and Kristian Prenga – but remains a deadly finisher with knockout power.

Fury’s most recent outings since coming out of retirement earlier this year have produced comfortable wins against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach, but both performances pointed to a fighter whose best days are behind him.

While the two should have met several years ago, their December 11 collision will at least end the dispute who is the preeminent British heavyweight of their generation, even if the contest is ultimately about whose skills have eroded the least.