Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will finally meet in the ring on Friday, December 11, in a heavyweight bout that has been years in the making. The fight will take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a decision that comes as a blow to London mayor Sadiq Khan, who had called for the capital to host the event.
Why Cardiff was chosen
The fight had to take place in the UK because of Anthony Joshua's contract with the Saudi organisers, and would have required renegotiation if it were moved elsewhere. After several months of talks, Cardiff was selected, with the Principality Stadium chosen as the venue. The fight will be streamed live globally on Netflix.
The stadium in the Welsh capital has a capacity of 80,000 and — crucially for this bout — it has a roof. With the fight taking place late at night during the winter, the roof was deemed essential for both fans and fighters alike.
Logistics and curfew
Cardiff also won the race partly because the Welsh government extended the venue's curfew time. Logistics and curfew extension did not work for London venues. Wembley Stadium's usual curfew is 11pm, although the mayor had previously indicated he would support efforts to bring the fight to London. Brent Council, the local authority involved in any approval, had said that a potential extension of the curfew would need to be assessed by Wembley's safety advisory group.
Khan's call for London
Before the decision was made, London Mayor Sadiq Khan had called for the fight to take place in London. Earlier this month, Lord Khan told Sky Sports: "We've hosted some of the biggest boxing events in history in London during my mayoralty. Many British fans are fans of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Many Londoners love both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua."
"Both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua recognise the importance of British boxing fans. The promoters know we're here to help. We've approached those in the know to say we're here to help."
"We've been loyal to Tyson and Anthony. We love them both and we'd love to see them box here in London."
The Standard have approached the mayor's office for further comment.
