Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua could be heading for Cardiff rather than the United States, with Principality Stadium emerging as the leading option after disagreements over where the heavyweight showdown can be staged.
The proposed November 20 fight had been linked with New York’s Madison Square Garden, but a contractual condition in Joshua’s deal reportedly requires the bout to take place in the United Kingdom. That provision has become a major obstacle to plans backed by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh and Netflix to take the event to the US.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has insisted that the contractual terms must be followed and has already threatened legal action against TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC and Zuffa Boxing, over efforts to stage the fight on American soil.
London initially appeared to be the obvious UK alternative, with Wembley Stadium under consideration. That option has since become complicated by a scheduling issue. Alalshikh is understood to want the fight to begin at 2:00 AM, but Wembley operates under a 1:00 AM event curfew, making the venue unsuitable under the proposed arrangements.
That has brought Cardiff’s Principality Stadium back into the picture. The stadium submitted a bid in July and offers several features that make it particularly suitable for a major winter boxing event, including a retractable roof, a capacity of around 80,000 and a central location in the Welsh capital.
The Welsh Rugby Union, which operates the stadium, has made clear that it wants to bring more high-profile boxing events to the venue.
“We’d be delighted to host this fight,” a WRU spokesperson said. “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.”
Principality Stadium also has recent history with Joshua. The British heavyweight fought there twice during the peak of his world championship career, drawing a crowd of around 78,000 for his 2017 world title defence against Carlos Takam before returning the following year for his unification fight with Joseph Parker.
The Cardiff venue’s previous experience with Joshua, combined with its ability to accommodate a late-night event under a retractable roof, could make it an increasingly attractive solution as discussions over the fight continue.
For now, the biggest question remains whether the proposed bout will stay in Britain or ultimately be moved across the Atlantic. With contractual obligations, venue restrictions and competing interests surrounding the event, the location of one of boxing’s most anticipated heavyweight fights remains unresolved.
