Negotiations are ongoing to finalise details for the highly anticipated heavyweight boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, scheduled for the early hours of Saturday, December 12, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. While the two British fighters have agreed in principle to the bout, final contractual arrangements remain under discussion, including the order of their ring walks.
Both Joshua, 36, and Fury, 38, signed contracts separately with the Saudi organisers behind the event, leading to last-minute negotiations over logistical elements that could influence the fighters' pre-match conditions. One key point of contention is which fighter will enter the ring first—a decision with strategic implications, as the competitor making the initial walk must wait in the cold ring while the second fighter enters, potentially affecting their warm-up and focus.
Ring walks in large stadiums can last up to ten minutes, and being the first to enter can require enduring cold temperatures and waiting, which might disrupt a boxer’s performance. Fury has previously used such tactics to his advantage. In April 2022, during his fight against Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium, Fury delayed Whyte’s entry by approximately 20 minutes, reportedly affecting his opponent’s readiness. Later that year, when facing Derek Chisora, Fury took steps to keep warm by arriving second and using towels to maintain body heat.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, highlighted the challenges of dealing with personalised contract clauses, which can lead to complications behind the scenes. Hearn noted past experiences with similar issues in other fights, including the Chris Eubank Jr. versus Conor Benn matchup, where disputes about dressing rooms and ring walk order arose. He expressed confidence that despite the current negotiations, the team has secured a favourable deal for Joshua, particularly regarding the event’s location.
“There were preferences on both sides,” Hearn said, referring to Fury’s reported preference for Ireland as a venue versus their push for a UK location, which ultimately prevailed. He added that the financial terms were satisfactory and downplayed concerns over contractual advantages, stating, “Tyson doesn’t know if we’re getting more or less than him and it doesn’t really matter, because we’re getting a lot of money and we are happy with our deal.”
Joshua has resumed training at Ben Davison’s gym in Harlow, marking a return one year after Davison was dismissed following Joshua’s knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Meanwhile, Fury has been preparing at his camp in Florida, benefiting from warmer weather conditions.
On fight night, both fighters are expected to complete their warm-ups in separate dressing rooms before heading to the ring. However, the timing and order of their entries are seen as a critical factor, with the potential to influence not only physical readiness but also psychological momentum as each boxer faces the crowd and their opponent.
Promoters aim to finalise these arrangements soon, with an official announcement likely to come this week, sparking a surge in ticket demand among UK fight fans eager to witness the clash between two of Britain’s heavyweight superstars.