The proposed start time is driven as much by business as by boxing. A 2:00 a.m. ring walk in Britain would air during prime time in the United States, potentially boosting pay-per-view sales for a fight expected to rank among the year’s biggest financial events.
Local authorities have not confirmed whether the stadium’s normal 11:00 p.m. event curfew would be extended, creating an obstacle that could become increasingly significant as plans for the fight take shape.
That uncertainty has allowed Cardiff’s Principality Stadium to enter the conversation.
The Welsh Rugby Union, which owns and operates the venue, told Sky Sports it would be “delighted” to host the fight and suggested a 2 a.m. start would not present the same difficulties. The stadium has staged major late-night boxing before, including Joe Calzaghe’s unification victory over Mikkel Kessler in November 2007.
“We are very keen to attract more boxing to the stadium which has a rich history in the sport, enhanced by its closeable roof, unrivaled sight lines and unique city center location,” a Welsh Rugby Union spokesperson said to Sky Sports.
Joshua is already familiar with the venue, having defeated Carlos Takam there in 2017 before returning to outpoint Joseph Parker in their heavyweight title unification fight the following year.
Still, Wembley may remain the favorite if the curfew issue can be resolved.
The national stadium (Wembley) offers a significantly larger capacity than Principality Stadium and carries the status associated with Britain’s biggest sporting occasions. After years of failed negotiations and false starts, Fury-Joshua beneath the Wembley arch would represent the setting many fans have envisioned from the beginning.
The final venue may depend less on the fighters than on local authorities. Until the curfew question is resolved, Britain’s national stadium cannot be considered a certainty for the country’s biggest heavyweight showdown in years.
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