It’s the most anticipated fight in British boxing history.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet, after years of the prospect being talked up and then seemingly shut down, later this year.
The date is fixed for Friday, December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. However, the actual fight is now set to take place, technically, on Saturday, December 12. That’s after the ringwalk times were confirmed.
Both fighters are set to enter the stadium at 1am local time after an application was made to Cardiff Council. The boxers will enter after a short live music performance, with plans confirming that the stadium will remain open until 3.30am.
The unusual start time is to accommodate watching audiences in the United States.
Saudi Arabia boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh and American business partner Dana White were keen for New York’s Madison Square Garden to be the venue for the fight – which is being streamed live on Netflix. But this timing change is now seen as a compromise.
Sky Sports say that “in a bid to obtain the necessary permissions, Millennium Stadium plc has applied to the council to extend timings at the venue “on a very limited one-off occasion”.
After the fight was announced last month, Cardiff Council leader Chris Weaver said: “The contest at Principality Stadium has the potential to bring significant economic benefits to the city and attract visitors from across the UK and beyond.
“Major events provide a welcome boost for local businesses, support jobs and showcase Cardiff to a global audience.
“There are still some arrangements to be finalised with the organisers, including any required changes to Principality Stadium’s premises licence, but we are looking forward to welcoming fans to the city for what promises to be an unforgettable night of boxing.”
It will not be the first time the huge Welsh venue has experienced an early-morning big fight. Back in 2007, hometown hero Joe Calzaghe fought Mikkel Kessler with the fight starting in the early hours, again to suit US TV demand.
