Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could settle their bitter heavyweight rivalry in Cardiff, with the Principality Stadium now in the running to host the much-anticipated bout
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s long-awaited grudge match could be held in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium amid the controversy surrounding the fight. New York’s Madison Square Garden has been touted as a destination for the November 20 bout, however Joshua’s contract contains a stipulation that requires the fight to be held in the UK.
The Gypsy King has embarked on repeated social media tirades against the potential plans. Discussions over England’s Wembley Stadium had been mooted but now Cardiff has emerged as a potential venue. The Principality Stadium has a retractable roof and holds 80,000 spectators.
Criticism has been aimed at the discussion over holding the fight in America, which could see the bout between Britain’s biggest heavyweights, as it could take place in the early hours to accomodate the market in the US.
Meanwhile, Friday night has been touted as a day for the fight in order to prevent clashing with the American football calendar.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh and broadcaster Netflix are keen for the fight to occur in the United States. However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn maintains it should be held on British soil, with the contractual clause supporting his position.
The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown has become embroiled in disputes regarding the fight’s venue. Last week, Hearn threatened legal proceedings against TKO Group Holdings – the parent company of Dana White’s UFC and Zuffa Boxing – for trying to ‘lure’ Joshua to the US.
Wembley’s prospects of staging the contest were dashed by Alalshikh’s demand for a 2am start time, with the national stadium’s curfew only extendable to 1am.
This has brought Cardiff back into the frame, with the Principality Stadium having bid for the event in July.
“We’d be delighted to host this fight,” a spokesperson for Welsh Rugby Union, which own the stadium, told Sky Sports at the time.
“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.”
The venue previously welcomed Joshua’s victory over Carlos Takam in 2017, drawing a crowd of 78,000, with AJ returning to face Joseph Parker at the same location just a year later.
Although primarily renowned as a rugby venue, the Principality Stadium boasts a distinguished boxing heritage, most notably when Welsh legend Joe Calzaghe took on Mikkel Kessler in 2007. The Welsh capital also made history as the setting for the legendary bout between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno at the old National Stadium back in 1993.
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