Fury Makes U-Turn, Backs Cardiff for Joshua Fight

Tyson Fury has backed Cardiff’s Principality Stadium as the venue for his long-awaited heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua, marking a shift from his previous uncertainty over holding the fight in Wales.

Fury expressed his support for Cardiff in a social media post featuring the stadium, saying a fight in Wales would be special because of his Welsh family roots.

“If this fight happens in Wales, this will be amazing,” Fury wrote, describing the prospect as a homecoming.

The Principality Stadium has emerged as the leading option for the bout, with Friday, December 11, reportedly being considered as the date for the highly anticipated all-British heavyweight contest.

Negotiations involving the fighters’ camps, promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, Netflix and Saudi boxing official Turki Alalshikh are continuing, with an official announcement expected once the remaining arrangements are completed.

The location has been a major issue in negotiations. Joshua’s agreement reportedly requires the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, while New York and venues in the Middle East had previously been considered.

Cardiff has gained momentum because the Principality Stadium has a retractable roof and can accommodate a large crowd. The venue previously hosted Joshua’s victory over Carlos Takam in 2017, which attracted about 78,000 spectators.

Fury’s latest comments represent a change from earlier discussions, when Cardiff was among several possibilities being considered after plans for a fight at Wembley became complicated by broadcast requirements.

Netflix is reportedly seeking a start time that would maximise the fight’s appeal to viewers in the United States. A late-night or early-morning start in the UK could therefore be required to accommodate American prime-time viewing.

The stadium normally operates under a curfew, meaning organisers may need additional approval if the event is to continue into the early hours.

Fury and Joshua have both expressed interest in finally settling their long-running rivalry after years of negotiations and postponed plans.

Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, previously said negotiations were progressing and that the fight was expected to take place in the UK, with Cardiff and Wembley among the venues under consideration.

The potential Cardiff fight would be one of the biggest British boxing events in recent years, bringing together two of the country’s most prominent heavyweight fighters.

However, the December 11 date and Cardiff venue remain subject to the completion of the outstanding arrangements and an official confirmation from the parties involved.