The highly anticipated heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is expected to be held at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, 11 December. While final details are reportedly still being finalised, Cardiff has emerged as the leading candidate, with an official announcement anticipated this week.
This development marks a shift from earlier plans that appeared to favour New York. Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn maintained their contractual right to stage the fight on British soil, leading to the Welsh capital taking centre stage.
Cardiff's Principality Stadium offers a solution to the challenges of hosting a December fight in the UK, thanks to its retractable roof. This feature allows for a large-scale stadium event while protecting fans and broadcast operations from potential winter weather. The venue also offers a smoother path for accommodating a US-friendly start time, with the Welsh Rugby Union confirming a late-night finish would not be a dealbreaker.
The stadium has a history of hosting major boxing events, including Joe Calzaghe's 2007 unification victory, which started at 02:00 local time to suit American television. Joshua has also previously sold out the venue, drawing nearly 80,000 fans for fights in 2017 and 2018.