Wales’s capital city is increasingly likely to stage one of the most anticipated bouts in British boxing history before the year is out.
A fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been discussed for well over a decade, but with both teams having now signed contracts, it has never been closer to becoming reality.
The key remaining sticking point is the location, with several parties pulling in different directions over where the fight should take place.
Broadcaster Netflix, Saudi Arabian backer Sela, and Team Fury have all reportedly pushed for the fight to be held at the 20,000-capacity Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Team Joshua, backed by promoter Eddie Hearn, has remained firmly committed to a British venue, citing the nationalities of both fighters and the size of their domestic fanbases.
Wembley Stadium might have seemed the obvious British choice, but demands from stakeholders led by boxing’s most influential money-man Turki Alalshikh have complicated the London option considerably.
Those demands mean the first bell may not ring until deep into the evening, or more likely in the early hours of the following morning, creating a serious curfew problem for London.
Mayor Sadiq Khan has found himself unable to accommodate the late start time, leaving Cardiff to step into the picture as a compelling and increasingly preferred alternative.
The Welsh capital is now the favourite to host the fight, with reports suggesting the devolved government is willing to waive the current 10:30pm curfew for events at the Principality Stadium.
“It’s inching closer and it looks like it could be the British boxing bonanza that we all hoped for taking place in Britain,” Fury’s manager Spencer Brown told Sky Sports.
“Three venues are still under consideration with Cardiff and Wembley still in the running,” Brown added, keeping some uncertainty in play despite Cardiff’s growing momentum.
The Principality Stadium’s retractable roof gives it a significant practical advantage, ensuring an electric atmosphere and guaranteed dry conditions regardless of the weather.
Its city centre location also eliminates the transport headaches that a 2am finish in London would inevitably cause for tens of thousands of fans.
An executive for one of Cardiff’s sports teams told City AM that “Cardiff’s sporting reputation is already established but landing the Fury/Joshua fight would underpin that.”
“Another victory for Team Cardiff,” the same executive added, reflecting a growing confidence within the city that it will secure the historic bout.
The outcome would represent a significant setback for Mayor Khan, who has long positioned London as Europe’s premier destination for major sporting events.
It could, however, represent an early symbolic win for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has made no secret of his desire to drive growth beyond the capital.
Cardiff last hosted Joshua nearly a decade ago when he defeated Joseph Parker, and many are now asking why the stadium was not at the top of the list from the very beginning.