Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua official: LIVE reaction as heavyweight super-fight is finally confirmed after years of waiting

“People talk about a 3am BST fight? I don’t think you’ll see the fight that late,” Hearn said on Saturday.

“But obviously there had to be conversations with the [Principality] Stadium about what’s possible and what is not possible.

“That’s probably a reason for the delay [of the fight announcement]: to make sure everything is boxed off with the council to have a slightly later start time.”

Hearn previously said that Dana White could NOT be involved in this fight, yet White featured in the announcement today.

Hearn has now told The Independent: “We expect the contracts to be honoured and, unless we decide otherwise, Dana White cannot be involved in the fight.”

So, Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is much too late. Speak to any sports fan in the street, and that’s the prevalent point they’ll make. But it’s not just that the British super-fight is years too late; with a version of contracts initially signed this spring, the fight is months too late within this year alone; and despite Eddie Hearn playing down the idea of 3am ring walks in Cardiff, he wasn’t exactly emphatic – prepare for the fight to be hours too late, to serve an American audience.

When the two behemoths clash on 11 December, whether in the dead of night or in its doorway, they will meet in the twilight of their careers. This is no longer a fight to crown the greatest heavyweight of a generation.

What about a fight to crown the best British heavyweight in the sport right now? No, not even that.

Gabe Spitzer, Vice President of Global Live Sports & Entertainment at Netflix, said: “Fury vs. Joshua is a fight years in the making between two of boxing’s biggest stars.

“It has the rivalry, the stakes and the scale to capture the attention of sports fans around the world.

“Bringing massive live moments like this to a global audience is exactly what we want to do at Netflix, and we can’t wait for members everywhere to experience it live.”

Dana White is the UFC’s president and CEO, who launched the controversial Zuffa Boxing with Alalshikh this year.

White has just said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring 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.

“On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide– and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”

“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 am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans.”

Tyson Fury Points or Decision – 16/5

Anthony Joshua by Dec/Tech Dec – 15/2

Fight to go the distance?

This is how Joshua teed up the announcement today:

Eddie Hearn has responded to the news that Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is official.

The Matchroom promoter, alongside Joshua, pushed back after a dispute over the venue, with Cardiff winning out over New York.

Hearn said: “WE DID IT. Forever indebted to the U.K. public for their support of Anthony Joshua, we couldn’t have got this over the line without you.”