Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set for a late-night Cardiff clash, with organizers seeking a 3:30am licence to accommodate US broadcast demands.
The lights at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium could remain burning until 3:30am this December as promoters push for a 1am start time for the long-awaited showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Millennium Stadium Plc has formally requested an amendment to its premises licence to facilitate the late-night event. The application, now before Cardiff Council, outlines a schedule where the ring walks commence just after midnight. The proposal also includes a request to permit live music until 3am, preceding the main event. For the duration of the fight, the stadium roof is expected to remain closed, supported by enhanced security measures.
This scheduling shift is driven by the broadcast requirements of Netflix. which sought a time slot compatible with a prime-time audience in the United States. Eddie Hearn led the push to secure the bout for Wales, successfully navigating concerns over tax implications. By keeping the fight on British soil. the two fighters avoid the steeper 30 percent tax rate they would have faced in America. opting instead for the 20 percent UK levy. This decision saves Anthony Joshua specifically £7.5 million. a point of significant contention during negotiations. as his contract originally stipulated a UK venue.
While Hearn had initially favored Wembley Stadium, the Principality Stadium’s retractable roof and the Welsh government’s flexibility on late-night curfews solidified Cardiff as the host city. Each fighter is set to earn a purse of £75 million.
Beyond the logistics, the spectacle is already taking on a larger-than-life character. Tyson Fury has publicly expressed his intent to invite United States President Donald Trump to join him for his ring walk. “I’ll definitely make that offer to my old buddy. old pal. and we’ll see if he’s available. ” Fury noted. though he acknowledged the president’s current responsibilities make the prospect unlikely.
Fury enters the bout as the favorite, having undergone a dramatic physical transformation. After previously describing himself in January as a “fat. binge-drinking junk-food addict” upon his fifth return from retirement. he has shed weight that he once compared to the mass of an adult mountain gorilla.
The path to the ring is not yet entirely clear. The public and local authorities have until November 3 to lodge objections to the licensing application. Should no formal challenges arise. the council is expected to grant the permission. effectively setting the stage for one of the most unconventional start times in British boxing history.
Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua Cardiff boxing Principality Stadium Netflix boxing news Eddie Hearn