Cardiff continues to look like the front runner to stage Tyson Fury’s all-British heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year.
Numerous reports cite the early hours of Saturday December 12 for the era-defining showdown, with hotel prices in the Welsh capital already soaring for that date.
Officials must first strike a deal with local authorities to extend the Principality Stadium’s current curfew in order to host the event, which will take place late to accommodate US television requirements.
Cardiff, which previously hosted the all-British heavyweight clash between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno in 1993, emerged as a contender to stage the contest after negotiations appeared to flounder due to contractual issues.
Joshua’s contract with the Saudi promotional company Sela states that the fight must take place in the UK, with Wembley the obvious favourite despite its own curfew issues and lack of a retractable roof.
The scenario became more complicated when New York’s Madison Square Garden emerged as a possible alternative, and one potentially more favourable for the fight’s broadcaster, Netflix.
Following the developments, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn demanded Joshua’s purse be increased to reflect the additional tax paid for boxing in the United States.
Besides the clash between Lewis and Bruno, Cardiff also staged the 2007 world super-middleweight title unification bout between Welshman Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler, another fight that took place in the early hours of the morning.
Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing
Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing
Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
And it may be that Cardiff’s track record will help swing the biggest fight for a generation to the city, with some reports claiming it could be signed and sealed before the end of this week.
Despite frequent taunts from Fury over Joshua’s perceived unwillingness to take the fight, Hearn insisted there was no question he would shift from his position of wanting the fight in the UK.
Hearn told IFL TV: “Anthony Joshua could have taken many millions more to do the fight in America.
“We want the fight in Britain. The support that we’ve had on social media has made us double down on our principles on this. We’re not trying to hurt the fight.”
