Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are heading into their long-awaited Cardiff showdown with more than bragging rights at stake, as the December blockbuster could deliver career-high earnings for both heavyweight stars.

The British rivals are scheduled to meet at the Principality Stadium on December 11, ending years of failed negotiations and postponed plans surrounding one of boxing’s most anticipated all-British heavyweight contests.

According to a report by The Sun, the fight could generate a total purse of about £150m ($198m), with the financial arrangement reportedly giving neither fighter an advantage in the split. If the figures hold, Joshua and Fury would each take home approximately £75m ($99m).

Such a payday would represent a new personal high for both boxers. Their previous biggest reported earnings from a single bout were around £65m ($85m), meaning the Cardiff contest could add roughly £10m to that figure for each fighter.

The fight has taken years to materialise. Joshua and Fury were expected to clash in 2021 while both were among the dominant figures in the heavyweight division, but contractual commitments surrounding Fury’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder derailed those plans.

Their careers subsequently moved in different directions, with both eventually sharing the ring with Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian defeated Fury twice and also claimed victories over Joshua in their respective heavyweight title encounters.

Despite the financial attraction of taking the fight to the United States, where venues such as Madison Square Garden had reportedly been considered, Joshua pushed for the contest to remain in Britain.

The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has explained that his preference was rooted in his connection with British boxing, crediting the sport and his early coaches with helping to transform his life. For Joshua, staging the fight in the UK was reportedly a condition rather than simply another venue option.

With both fighters now in the later stages of their careers, the December encounter could also carry retirement implications. Beyond the huge financial stakes, Joshua and Fury will have an opportunity to finally settle a rivalry that has dominated heavyweight boxing discussions for years.