Fury-Joshua heavyweight bout faces uncertainty as organizers consider alternatives
Reports indicate the scheduled December 11 fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua may be cancelled, with possible replacement opponents being discussed.
The December 11 heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, set for Cardiff's Principality Stadium and to be streamed on Netflix, is reportedly in jeopardy. Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine said the bout could be called off and mentioned several potential replacement fighters. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix described the situation as a "very much in peril" issue.
Organizers, including UFC President Dana White and Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh, appear aligned on the matter, according to the report. Fury, a former unified champion who held the WBC title from 2020 to 2024, entered the fight with a 36-2-1 record and recent wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach. Joshua, a two-time unified champion with a 30-4 record, had rebounded with knockouts of Jake Paul and Kristian Penga after earlier losses to Andy Ruiz Jr., Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
Alalshikh announced the fight on Thursday, but the latest statements suggest an obstacle has emerged, leaving the future of the matchup uncertain.