Joshua Ready for Fury

Two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has declared himself ready for his long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury, insisting that his strengths extend far beyond his renowned punching power ahead of their December 11 blockbuster at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

The all-British heavyweight contest, which has taken more than a decade to materialise, will headline a major boxing event broadcast live on Netflix and is expected to be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

Joshua said he considers himself an excellent counter-puncher with strong anticipation, distance control and ring intelligence, qualities he believes could prove decisive against Fury on fight night.

“I don’t believe just being a big puncher is what I bring to the table,” Joshua said, adding that he was good at measuring distance and possessed strong anticipation and an ability to read the fight.

The British-Nigerian boxer also said his physical appearance could cause opponents to overlook the tactical side of his game, stressing that his experience and boxing intelligence had contributed significantly to his success as a two-time heavyweight champion.

Joshua enters the contest after a dramatic victory over Kristian Prenga in July, when he survived two first-round knockdowns before recovering to stop the Albanian heavyweight in the second round.

The Prenga fight represented Joshua’s return to competition after he survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria in December 2025, an accident that claimed the lives of his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.

Joshua has nevertheless approached the Fury contest with considerable confidence, telling Sky Sports that he expects a knockout and even suggested that the fight could end in the opening round.

“I’m durable, hard to beat, can show vulnerabilities, but makes it exciting for the fans at home,” Joshua said, while making clear that his career would continue regardless of the outcome in Cardiff.

Fury, meanwhile, has promised an aggressive performance of his own and said he intends to pursue a stoppage rather than rely on his usual movement and boxing ability.

The 38-year-old Fury enters the bout with a professional record of 36 wins, two defeats and one draw, including 25 victories by knockout, while Joshua has recorded 30 wins, four defeats and 27 knockouts.

The fight will be contested for the vacant WBA “super” heavyweight title, adding championship significance to a rivalry that has long been defined by its enormous commercial and sporting appeal.

The December 11 encounter will also be a significant test of how both veterans perform at this stage of their careers, as neither man currently holds a world heavyweight title after previous defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

The rivalry finally moved from years of speculation to reality after months of negotiations over the venue, with Cardiff ultimately selected instead of proposed locations in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Joshua and Fury held their first face-off since the fight was confirmed in London on September 30, where both fighters maintained a respectful tone despite the enormous anticipation surrounding their meeting.

The Principality Stadium, which can accommodate up to 80,000 spectators, will host the historic encounter and has described the event as one of the biggest boxing occasions ever staged at the Cardiff venue.

There is no contractual rematch clause in the agreement, which means the December 11 contest could carry even greater significance for both fighters, particularly if either man suffers a decisive defeat.

With Joshua promising aggression from the opening bell and Fury threatening an equally forceful response, the long-awaited British heavyweight rivalry is now set for its decisive chapter in Cardiff.

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