Tyson Fury's blockbuster fight with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff could be brought forward from its proposed 2am start time as the two heavyweight stars prepare to face each other publicly for the first time since their long-awaited showdown was announced.
Fury's manager Spencer Brown has revealed that talks are ongoing over the timing of the December 11 clash at Principality Stadium, with Fury's camp opposed to the prospect of the fight starting in the early hours of the morning.
Late start criticised
The proposed late start has been discussed to accommodate a global television audience, but Brown believes it would be far too late for supporters in Wales and across the UK. As yet, the Principality Stadium has not applied to extend its licence beyond the current curfew that says all events must be finished by 1am.
"I think 2am is far too late," Brown told Playbook Boxing. "I think that the general public in England will want to watch it in the pubs, the clubs, you know, around each other's houses."
"There'll be a party atmosphere. And I just think it needs to be earlier. Simple as that."
"It's all in negotiation at the moment but we think it shouldn't be at 2am. 99% of people would tell you that."
"People don't want to be in a stadium at 2am freezing. Look we're still negotiating it, it's ongoing."
"You will find out about that later on, but the whole of Cardiff seems to be sold out already, it will be rocking."
Press conference ahead
The comments come as Fury and Joshua prepare to finally meet face-to-face in London on Wednesday for the first public press conference ahead of their huge all-British heavyweight clash.
Both fighters have now arrived in the capital, with Fury travelling back from the United States after a family trip to Walt Disney World, while Joshua has flown in from his training camp in Dubai.
The conference comes after a remarkable few days of uncertainty which briefly threatened to derail the fight just 24 hours after it was officially announced.
Disputes resolved
The December 11 bout had been thrown into doubt amid a dispute over the proposed involvement of UFC chief Dana White in the promotion. Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn insisted contractual terms prevented White from having a promotional role, while White publicly criticised Hearn and subsequently said he did not know whether the fight or Wednesday's press conference would go ahead. White is not expected to attend the launch.
A further issue emerged over Fury's involvement in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association testing programme, although Brown has since confirmed the former world champion is now enrolled with Vada.
The latest developments mean the fight appears to be back on track, with Fury and Joshua now set to share a stage for the first time since the announcement. It is a significant moment for a contest that has taken more than a decade to make.
The fight was formally announced last week by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, with the event expected to generate huge global interest and a reported purse approaching $200m (£151m). Instead of the focus immediately being on the long-awaited sporting contest, the past few days have been dominated by promoters, contractual disputes and questions over whether Fury-Joshua would actually happen.
Wednesday's press conference therefore offers both fighters and the organisers a chance to change the narrative. And there could be another significant announcement to come, with Fury's camp pushing for the Cardiff fight to begin considerably earlier than the proposed 2am UK start.
