The proposed Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua heavyweight showdown could feature an unusually late start at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with plans submitted to Cardiff Council indicating that the fighters’ ring walks could take place shortly after midnight.
An application has been made by Millennium Stadium Plc to amend the venue’s premises licence for the December event.
The proposal would allow the stadium to remain open until 3.30am for what has been described as a highly limited, one-off occasion.
Principality Stadium Seeks Extended Opening Hours
Under the proposal, the ring walks for Fury and Joshua are expected to begin at around 1am, while live music could continue until 3am.
A musical performance is also expected to take place before the main event.
The plans include keeping the stadium roof closed throughout the event, alongside enhanced security arrangements for spectators attending the fight.
Authorities and members of the public have until November 3 to submit objections to the application. A council hearing will then consider any representations received.
Fury Floats Trump Ring-Walk Appearance
Fury has also raised the possibility of being accompanied to the ring by United States President Donald Trump.
The former heavyweight champion said he intended to make the offer to Trump, whom he described as an old friend, while acknowledging that the president’s schedule could make an appearance difficult.
“I’ll definitely make that offer to my old buddy, old pal, and we’ll see if he’s available,” Fury said.
He added that it was “probably unlikely” given Trump’s responsibilities as President of the United States.
Cardiff Emerges as Fight Location
The bout had previously been linked with both the United Kingdom and New York City before Cardiff became the preferred location.
Eddie Hearn had reportedly pushed for the contest to be staged in Cardiff, while Netflix was understood to favour a later start that would allow viewers in the United States to watch the event at a suitable time.
Hearn had initially considered Wembley Stadium, but the Principality Stadium’s retractable roof and arrangements allowing for a later finish in Cardiff helped move the proposal towards the Welsh capital.
Fury Continues Physical Transformation
Fury is currently the favourite in the build-up to the contest and has spoken extensively about the physical transformation he has undergone ahead of the fight.
The former world champion has said he has reduced his weight from around 28 stone, comparing his previous size to that of an adult mountain gorilla.
His weight and fitness have varied considerably throughout his career.
In January, Fury described himself as a “fat, binge-drinking junk-food addict” while announcing his return from retirement for a fifth time.
£75 Million Purses for Both Fighters
Fury and Joshua are each expected to receive £75 million for the contest.
The location of the fight also became an important financial consideration for Joshua.
As previously reported, the fighters would have faced a tax rate of around 30 per cent on their purses in the United States, compared with approximately 20 per cent in Britain.
That difference was particularly relevant to Joshua, who was understood to have objected to the possibility of an additional £7.5 million tax bill.
The two-time world champion subsequently insisted that the terms of his agreement, which called for a British-based fight, should be honoured.
