Fury vs Joshua on Dec. 11: WBA 'super' title said to be at stake; Fury eyes new deal

The Cardiff fight may carry a belt as well as a payday. According to promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, the vacant WBA 'super' heavyweight title will be on the line on Dec. 11, so the winner would become a three-time world champion. The WBA has not confirmed it, and until it does the title is a promoter's claim.

The belt only exists as a prize because Oleksandr Usyk vacated his three titles in June. Murat Gassiev, who beat Kubrat Pulev for the WBA 'regular' title last December, would stay in the secondary tier. David Haye, speaking to talkSPORT, said he sympathised with the Russian: "I feel the fighter's pain, but that's the business."

Fury is selling the fight as Joshua's last big purse. "At the end of his career now he wants a final payday. I'll give it to him, no problem," he told WSVN Miami, according to Combat Sports UK. He also claims Joshua turned the fight down four or five times before. That account is Fury's alone; Joshua has not been quoted on it, though he has predicted a knockout.

The bigger signal is what Fury says comes after. He has two fights left on his contract and, according to Combat Sports UK, will probably sign another 10-fight deal if the money is right, with the fights needing to come quickly because he is getting older. His main target is a trilogy with Usyk, who beat him twice in 2024. Fury still disputes the rematch decision.

Both men are late in their careers. Fury is 38 and stands 6 ft 9 in; Joshua is 37 and stands 6 ft 6 in. Fury came back in April with a points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov and stopped Mariusz Wach three months later. He has announced his retirement five times and reversed each time, so his future plans come with that history attached.

Watch for the WBA's ruling on whether the 'super' title is really on the line, and for Joshua's reply to the payday talk as fight week nears.