Cardiff’s Principality Stadium has emerged as the surprise frontrunner to stage the long-awaited Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury showdown, with plans centred on an early-hours start designed to accommodate a global television audience.
Local officials could reportedly give the green light as soon as today to relax the venue’s usual 10.30pm curfew. Such a move would clear the way for Cardiff to host the blockbuster after disagreements complicated proposals for Wembley Stadium and Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Welsh capital is no stranger to after-midnight prizefighting. In 2007, Joe Calzaghe’s clash with Mikkel Kessler at the Principality Stadium began at 2am. Joshua and Fury could be asked to enter the ring at a similarly late hour in order to suit Netflix viewers across the United States.
Netflix had favoured New York, where the event would fall into a more attractive US prime-time slot. Meanwhile, Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn pushed for Wembley, arguing that the biggest British boxing fight of the century belongs on home soil. Hearn has reportedly remained unwilling to move without revised contracts that include improved financial terms.
Cardiff now appears to offer a middle ground for all sides. The 80,000-seat Principality Stadium also has a retractable roof, an advantage Wembley does not share and one that could prove crucial for a proposed late-November or December event. Saturday, November 28 has been discussed as a potential date.
The Times reports that, subject to approval for the late finish, a press conference could be provisionally held next week.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could be heading to Cardiff, Wales, for a huge November fight
Joshua’s team had wanted a UK venue, while Netflix preferred the event to take place in the US
Wembley had initially appeared to be a natural home for the heavyweight mega-fight, but its strict 11pm curfew became a major obstacle. London Mayor Sadiq Khan had said he wanted to explore whether exemptions could be made for the event.
However, boxing powerbroker Turki Al-Sheikh has remained firm in his demand for a 2am start time.
Netflix have been running advertisements for Fury-Joshua as recently as Thursday night, clearly confident an agreement will be struck.
The streaming giant has yet to sign off on Cardiff but American sportswriter Dan Rafael last night reported he had asked Netflix if they would approve, with a source telling him: ‘I think they’re OK.’
READ MORE: Erika Kirk Honors Charlie Kirk One Year After His Murder
A spokesperson for the Welsh Rugby Union said: ‘We’d be delighted to host this fight.
‘We are very keen to attract more boxing to the stadium, which has a rich history in the sport, enhanced by its closable roof, unrivalled sight lines and unique city-centre location.’
Joe Calzaghe trains at the Principality Stadium before his 2am fight there in 2007
Joshua has fought in Cardiff twice previously, beating Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker in the Welsh capital in 2017 and 2018.
While Joshua has left Hearn to do the talking on his side of the deal, Fury has been publicly speaking and threatening that the heavyweight contest will be called off.
This week he suggested he will no longer be fighting Joshua in another social media rant as rows over the location and contract surrounding the fight continued.
‘So it looks like AJ has s*** his pants yet again,’ Fury said on social media on Sunday. ‘After 11 years, he’s finally s*** his pants yet again.’
Last week, Fury, who regularly takes to social media to express his views on potential opponents, was keen to make clear he feels Joshua is not motivated by a love of his country. Earlier this year Daily Mail Sport revealed Joshua had in fact quit the UK to move to Dubai – even as thousands tried to flee amid rising panic in the Middle East warzone.
And Fury, a tax exile to the Isle of Man himself, brought up a 2020 speech at a Black Lives Matter march, where Joshua read out a letter from his friend Reece Campbell to urge attendees to stop spending money with white-owned shops and businesses.
‘Show them where it hurts’, Joshua had said. ‘Abstain from spending your money in their shops and economies, and invest in black-owned businesses.’
Fury re-posted the video of the speech, writing: ‘This is the man who loves England, absolute s*** bag! Total piece of s*** bully with zero guts! Don’t let them deceive you! & Living in Dubai.’
Provided Cardiff hits no further stumbling blocks, the Welsh capital may now offer the solution to get the fight on at last.