Turki Alalshikh confirmed Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is coming to Britain on Friday, December 11, half an hour before Netflix posted the official branded announcement.
At 11:30 a.m. GMT, Alalshikh wrote: “For 15 years no one has been able to make this fight. Back in April, I said that any announcement would come from me. I can now confirm that Fury Vs Joshua will be coming to the UK, as I promised British boxing fans. The time for talking is over.”
Fifteen minutes later he posted the venue graphic naming Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Netflix as the streamer. Netflix followed at noon GMT with: “Enough talk. Time to fight. TYSON FURY vs. ANTHONY JOSHUA. Friday December 11. LIVE from the UK – and only on Netflix.”
In the same rollout, Alalshikh added: “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.”
Netflix dated and branded the show. Alalshikh is the financier who made the contracts move. The Ring, which he owns, is co-promoting the Cardiff date with Dana White, a role MMA News examined from the Zuffa side. Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren were not named in the official statement, and Hearn has since insisted White is not involved in the fight.
Sela and Netflix had preferred Madison Square Garden for U.S. prime time. Joshua’s deal specified the United Kingdom. Cardiff, with a roof, kept the fight in Britain and still allows a late start for American viewers. First-bell time is still unconfirmed. No world titles are on the line. Purse reports put the fight near $200 million.
The undercard has not been announced, but the chatter has started: Manny Pacquiao and Shakur Stevenson are reportedly in talks to fight on the show, and Jack Catterall has called out Teofimo Lopez for the card. Joshua, meanwhile, posted a cryptic message after the announcement.
