The Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight is in big trouble because of last-minute concerns.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are set to finally settle the question of who’s the greatest British heavyweight of this generation in just over a month—if their highly anticipated matchup actually happens.
After a tough battle to agree on a venue for what could be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, it was decided in mid-September that Joshua and Fury will face off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
The fight will start in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 12, to suit American viewers, with ring walks planned for 1 a.m. Even though tickets sold out quickly last month, there are still some hurdles to clear to make sure this once-in-a-generation fight takes place.
Cardiff City Council has received several complaints from nearby residents about the fight being held so late, with concerns about noise and possible anti-social behavior. Normally, the stadium closes by 1 a.m., like Wembley Stadium, but organizers want to keep it open until 3:30 a.m.
The council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will meet on November 25 to decide if they’ll allow this extension, and their decision could be the key to whether the fight goes ahead.
One local said to the Mirror, “The Council should think carefully about whether these late hours are really needed and if they can stop noise and disruption at that time. I hope they say no.”
Another added, “The shouting, singing, and likely bad behavior at 1 a.m. will wake up everyone and leave our kids tired and stressed. I get that it’s a big event for the city, but running this late will cause serious problems for those living nearby. Mixing all-night partying with no transport is asking for trouble, and our streets will suffer.”
Time is running out for the stadium to get the license changes it needs, with Millennium Stadium plc asking for the extension just for this one special event.
If the fight goes ahead as planned, the main event will follow some exciting undercard matches, including Deontay Wilder vs. Jai Opetaia.
Wilder is coming off two losses in his last four fights but did win a close split decision against Derek Chisora in April.
Even though Wilder is known as one of the hardest hitters around and is headlining the undercard, Fury—who has beaten Wilder twice in three fights—thinks the 41-year-old should have retired after their last bout in 2021.
“It’s really sad for Deontay,” Fury told FightHype. “He shouldn’t be fighting anymore; he should be done. He should have stopped after I beat him last time. If you’re getting knocked out by people you probably should have knocked out yourself, it’s time to walk away.
“Him and Chisora looked awful when they fought. Chisora’s super old now, and he was taking Wilder’s heavy punches that just don’t have power anymore, and they didn’t even faze him.”
Wilder’s opponent, Opetaia, is moving up to heavyweight for the first time. If the fight happens, he’ll need to be sharp in December to beat the Australian.