British boxing heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua came face-to-face at a press conference in London on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The event came ahead of their highly anticipated Dec. 11 showdown at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
The two British former heavyweight world champions will meet in a fight that has been a decade in the making. The event will stream live globally on Netflix.
Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) and Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) appeared at Olympia in London for a press conference hosted by HE Turki Alalshikh, Netflix and The Ring. Boxing broadcaster Max Kellerman led the event, which also featured Ring Magazine CEO Rick Reeno.
Fury Promises to Come Out Swinging
Both fighters expressed their excitement about finally stepping into the ring together. Fury, for his part, promised an aggressive approach against his British rival.
“I can tell you the strategy – I’m going to come out and gun him out of there,” Fury said. “I’m not going to run away, I’m going to throw down.”
The matchup has seemed inevitable for years within the British boxing sphere. Both fighters established themselves among the biggest names in heavyweight boxing. Despite their success in the division, however, the two have never met in a professional bout.
“It’s been 10 years in the making; the rise has been phenomenal from both fighters,” Fury said. “To throw down, in front of 80,000 people – let the best man win and let’s go out swinging.”
Fury also described the fight as potentially the biggest event in boxing history. He pointed to its commercial appeal, anticipated viewing figures and the worldwide live broadcast on Netflix, the world’s biggest paid subscription streaming service.
Fury and Joshua Fight for Home Soil
Joshua shared his enthusiasm for the matchup taking place in the United Kingdom. He said it will have a positive impact on younger generations of British boxers.
“It’s breathtaking,” Joshua said. “I know we’re going to inspire this generation, and I know for a fact we’re going to inspire the next generation.”
The fight’s location became the subject of a dispute amid a bigger feud between big-hitting promoters Eddie Hearn and Dana White. White pushed for Madison Square Garden in New York City, while Hearn insisted the bout take place in the UK. According to ESPN, Joshua reportedly accepted a pay cut of more than $13 million to keep the long-awaited British showdown on home soil.
Joshua Uses Fury’s Confidence as Fuel
Both fighters acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion. Still, Joshua made it clear that Fury’s signature brazen confidence would only motivate him further during his preparations.
“There’s nothing else I expect from [Tyson Fury] than to say he’s going to render me unconscious,” Joshua said. “But this is what’s going to keep me running. This is what’s going to make me do the extra rounds in the gym, because I want to prove to myself that what he’s saying is not possible.”
The two also revisited a previous sparring session in which Fury reportedly won a Rolex watch from Joshua. However, Joshua joked that Fury did not leave the session completely unscathed.
“He left the room with a Rolex watch, but he also left the room with a black eye,” Joshua recounted.
Alalshikh, who acquired The Ring in November 2024, also said he plans to keep delivering major events for boxing fans and fighters.
Tickets for Fury vs. Joshua
Tickets for the Dec. 11 showdown will go on sale Friday, Oct. 9, at noon BST (7 a.m. ET). Fury predicted that demand could see the event sell out almost immediately. For more on the fight, see our latest boxing coverage.
Senior at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism
UMD '27