Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet in a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
The fight was confirmed on Thursday after a lengthy dispute over the venue threatened to delay the bout.
Fury’s long-time promoter, Frank Warren, said both fighters would earn more from the contest than any British fighter has previously received for a single bout.
“They’re getting paid more than any British fighter has earned in a fight ever,” Warren told Sky Sports News.
He said the financial terms had been agreed earlier, but the contracts contained different venues, creating the dispute that delayed the announcement.
“The money was agreed ages ago. The sticking point was that the contracts did not match up and neither side was aware of that. There were two different venues that were put in the contract,” Warren said.
“The bottom line of it is, everyone has compromised and it’s on now.”
The bout is also expected to be contested for the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title vacated by Oleksandr Usyk, according to Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger.
Usyk defeated both Fury and Joshua twice during his reign as undisputed heavyweight champion.
Meanwhile, the order in which Fury and Joshua will make their ring walks has yet to be determined.
Warren said Fury was given top billing because he is ranked higher than Joshua by the governing bodies.
“The billing says Fury-AJ. I think it’s quite right because Tyson is ranked higher than AJ in all the governing bodies’ rankings, and alphabetically, he should come first anyway,” he said.
On the fight itself, Warren expressed strong confidence in Fury but acknowledged Joshua’s punching power.
“I genuinely feel he [Fury] can make it as easy as he wants to,” Warren said.
“You can’t dismiss AJ because he’s a big, big puncher and in his last fight he was in trouble, but he pulled it out the bag with his punch power.”
Warren added that Fury’s resilience and boxing ability would ultimately give him the advantage.
“These guys have been talking about this fight for 12 years – maybe even longer – and everything will have to be on the line. Neither of them will want to lose,” he said.
“Tyson feels he’s got AJ’s number. I think he wins and I think he’ll do it in spectacular style.”Boluwatife Enome
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