Bakole and Vanhouter Land Spots on Fury vs Joshua Card
Boxing·November 12, 2026

Two heavyweights have been confirmed for the supporting bouts on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card, which takes place on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Martin Bakole, the Congolese-born contender with a reputation for dangerous power, is set to face Solomon Adebayo. Da'Mazion Vanhouter, the young American heavyweight, will meet Michael Essomba. Both fights were announced as additions to the bill that has been building around the marquee headliner.
For Bakole, the bout keeps him in the picture at heavyweight while the division's biggest names dominate the headlines. A strong performance on a stadium card of this size could put him in line for a bigger step up, and he will be expected to be the more experienced fighter on his side of the draw.
Vanhouter is the more intriguing of the two. Promoters have been pushing him as one of the brightest young prospects in the United States, and a televised slot on a card with this profile is exactly the type of exposure a fighter at his stage needs. A win over Essomba would strengthen his case for a step up in opposition in the new year.
The additions also show how the event is taking shape. A headline fight between two of the most recognisable names in heavyweight boxing needs a deep undercard to fill out the night, and these two bouts give the card more depth. Further details on the wider line-up, broadcast arrangements and ticketing are expected to follow as the date approaches.
Reporting based on an external source.