Hall of Fame trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas would favour one man in a “big way” if Ryan Garcia ends up facing Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.

The American successfully defended his WBC title earlier this month, flooring Conor Benn with a right hand and ultimately stopping his man in round two.

In doing so, Garcia retained his status as a world welterweight champion after dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February.

Prior to that, he looked far less impressive while getting outpointed by Rolando Romero, with his second professional defeat arriving at the completion of a year-long doping ban.

Based on his latest performance, however, Garcia appears to be fighting with supreme confidence as he targets another outing in 2026.

Standing in the opposite corner, he hopes, will be super-lightweight contender Cruz, who scored a sixth-round knockout over Nestor Bravo last weekend.

For all the Mexican’s strength and tenacity, though, Atlas has said on his YouTube channel that Garcia – who is around 6in taller – would surely punish Pitbull with his long-range attacks.

“With [Garcia’s] style on the outside and the sharpness of [his] punches – the right hand and the left hook – he’s going to have a lot of chances to catch [Cruz] just like he caught Benn.

“Cruz has a good chin – he’s a gutsy guy. And he’s a little more clever than he might have looked [against Bravo]. He’ll move his head, he’ll do certain things … he can even use his jab, at times.

“But, at the end of the day, you gotta favour Garcia in a big way. Is it a step too far [for Cruz] as far as size [is concerned]?”

While having campaigned at 140lbs for his last six fights, Cruz is, indeed, a much naturally smaller man than Garcia, who appears to have found an appropriate home at 147lbs.

The stakes have now been raised ahead of the blockbuster Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua showdown.

It was finally officially confirmed today that the two men will meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 11 December, with the event broadcast live on Netflix.

It sees the British stars collide having first been linked to a battle with one another over a decade ago, when they both held versions of the world heavyweight title.

It’s been several years since both men were world champions, with Fury losing his WBC heavyweight title to Oleksandr Usyk back in May 2024while Joshua also lost his unified WBA, IBF and WBO belts against the Ukrainian back in September 2021.

Usyk went on to become undisputed heavyweight champion but no longer holds any of the belts after vacating his remaining titles earlier this year, and it seems that Fury and Joshua are going to benefit from that decision.

That is because it has been reported by The Ring’s Mike Coppinger that the vacant WBA ‘Super’ title is set to be on the line in the Fury vs. Joshua fight.

“Breaking: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will fight for the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title, @ringmagazine has learned. Fury and AJ will both be looking to regain a heavyweight title. Usyk remains The Ring champ while Murat Gassiev is the current holder of the WBA’s ‘regular’ heavyweight title.”

Murat Gassiev became WBA Regular champion with a knockout win over Kubrat Pulev in December, before making a defence of that title against Peter Kadiru in July.

It was initially believed that the WBA had elevated him to full champion after Usyk vacated the belt, but it appears Gassiev will now have to play second fiddle to the Fury vs. Joshua victor.

Principality Stadium secures the British heavyweight fight, with a London press conference next week and the undercard to follow.

Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) and Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11. Netflix will broadcast the full event exclusively after organizers secured a British venue for the heavyweights’ first professional meeting.

Turki Alalshikh announced the fight, and Joshua and Fury are scheduled to attend a London press conference next week. The supporting card will be announced later; no undercard opponents were named in the supplied announcement.

The December date replaces the November plan discussed earlier in negotiations. Wembley had been Joshua’s preferred destination, but Cardiff secured the event following talks over whether the fight would remain in Britain or move to the United States.

Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insisted on a UK venue. His contract included that requirement, and their position held despite discussions involving New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Dana White said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”

Netflix to broadcast the full Cardiff card

Netflix’s preference for an evening American broadcast drove the push to stage the fight across the Atlantic. Madison Square Garden emerged as the leading US option before negotiations returned to Britain.

Cardiff keeps the contest on British soil, with a late opening bell expected to accommodate viewers in the United States.

The main event is expected around 1 a.m. UK timealthough the exact time has not been confirmed. If that schedule holds. A 1 a.m. GMT start would put the main event at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 11 for viewers on America’s east coast.

The fight is expected to take place beneath Principality Stadium’s retractable roof.

London press conference scheduled for next week

Alalshikh welcomed the agreement after months of negotiations over the event.

“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans,” he said.

Joshua and Fury previously signed a two-fight agreement in 2021. That booking collapsed after an arbitration ruling required Fury to face Deontay Wilder again.

Their December meeting now has a confirmed date, venue and broadcaster. Next week’s press conference will bring both fighters to London, with the remaining card and precise event timetable still to follow.