The O2 Arena in London had been preferred, but concerts by Madness on Dec 10 and Fat Boy Slim on Dec 17 are thought to have ruled it out. Promoter Eddie Hearn had been dropping hints all week that both heavyweights “should be in the gym focusing on fighting each other” while suggesting that Klitschko was a “big favourite” to meet Joshua in his 18th outing. The two are likely to share the purse, with the contest screened on Sky Box Office.

Klitschko, who reigned as heavyweight champion for 9½ years, is said to be “delighted” that the contest will go ahead after almost a year out of the ring.

Tyson Fury, Joshua’s British heavyweight rival, paved the way for this fight by defeating Klitschko in Düsseldorf last November to win the World Boxing Association, IBF and World Boxing Organisation titles. Fury was stripped of the IBF title for failing to defend against mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov due to a rematch clause with Klitschko and the belt was subsequently won by Joshua in London from Charles Martin in April.