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Nick Parkinson
Anthony Joshua has agreed to terms to challenge WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on Dec. 3, with the fight expected to take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Former WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion Joshua was outpointed for a second successive time by Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk on Aug. 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but despite back-to-back losses was offered another title shot by Fury.
Joshua has accepted a 40-60% deal, but negotiations have been put on hold due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday.
Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) had initially hoped to fight again closer to Christmas — Dec. 17) — but Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) said the deal hinged on fighting either on Nov. 26 or Dec. 3.
The Principality Stadium, where Joshua successfully unified the world heavyweight titles with a points win over Joseph Parker in 2018, could potentially accommodate around 75,000 spectators for Fury vs. Joshua.
Joshua’s management company 258 said in a post on Twitter: “258 and Matchroom Boxing can confirm, on behalf of Anthony Joshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury’s team for a fight Dec. 3 last Friday.
Joshua-Fury update:
258 and @MatchroomBoxing can confirm, on behalf of @anthonyjoshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury’s team for a fight Dec 3rd last Friday.
Due to the Queen’s passing, it was agreed to halt all communication.
We are awaiting a response.
— 258MGT (@258mgt) September 13, 2022
“Due to the Queen’s passing, it was agreed to halt all communication. We are awaiting a response.”
With Usyk announcing he will not fight again in 2022 due to injury, Fury switched targets for his next fight and offered Joshua the opportunity to challenge him via social media.
When Fury and Joshua verbally agreed to fight each other in 2020, before both pursued different opponents (Fury fought Deontay Wilder, Joshua fought Usyk), it was claimed the all-English encounter was worth £200 million.
Fury has made two WBC title defences in his second reign as champion and last fought in April when he stopped English rival Dillian Whyte in six rounds.