The fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s undercard could steal the spotlight, as a fighter reveals talks are happening.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are finally set to face off in their much-anticipated fight on December 11. This match, called the biggest in British boxing history, might even be outshined by some exciting preliminary fights.
More than 80,000 fans will gather at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in less than two months to watch these two heavyweights settle the score once and for all. Tickets sold out in just an hour on Ticketmaster, with UFC president Dana White sharing that over 500,000 people tried to get them on Friday, October 9. Fans lucky enough to get tickets are in for a historic night—but the main event isn’t the only highlight.
The Fury vs. Joshua fight has opened the door for many talented fighters to appear on the undercard. Rumor has it that Netflix will show eight fights before the big moment, with former heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder possibly making an appearance. Wilder, known as “The Bronze Bomber,” had three epic battles with Fury and hopes to have a big fight on this card.
Sky Sports reported on October 10 that Wilder might face Jai Opetaia, an unbeaten Australian powerhouse in the cruiserweight division. Dana White said, “Jai Opetaia is likely to be on the undercard. We’ve been talking to Wilder about a fight with him.”
But Wilder isn’t the only one gearing up for a fight. Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxing legend who impressed many with his recent match against Oleksandr Usyk, is also in talks to join the event. Verhoeven has been called an underdog but gave Usyk a tough fight in May. After that, he received many offers and is leaning towards staying in boxing. He told talkSPORT on October 15, “I’ve been looking at all the offers, and I’ve said yes to a fight with Deontay Wilder for December 11. We’re just finalizing the details now.”
If Wilder agrees, this will mark his first fight since April 2026, when he beat Derek Chisora in London. Although Verhoeven has only boxed twice professionally, he’s best known as a kickboxer, with 66 wins and 10 losses in his career. He also held the GLORY Heavyweight title for over 12 years, defending it 13 times before giving it up in November 2025.
Often called the “King of Kickboxing,” Verhoeven has made a huge mark in the sport. If he fights Wilder and wins, he could make even more history on this huge night.