Cardiff protests threaten Joshua vs Fury fight

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us Cardiff protests threaten Joshua vs Fury fight Sports November 12, 2026 12:01 am Joshua and Fury

The December 11 heavyweight fight between British-Nigerian Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury faces uncertainty after residents of Cardiff objected to plans for the bout to run into the early hours of the morning.

The fight is scheduled for the Principality Stadium, with ring walks planned for 1am on Saturday, December 12. The stadium’s operators, Millennium Stadium plc, have asked Cardiff Council to extend the venue’s licence for boxing and wrestling events from the usual 1am finish to 3am on that “very limited one-off occasion”.

The late start is designed to suit prime-time viewing in the United States on Netflix. Saudi Arabia’s boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh, and Dana White had initially pushed for New York’s Madison Square Garden as the venue.

Cardiff Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will decide on the application on November 25, just over two weeks before the fight. Public bars on the concourse would stop serving alcohol at 1am, but hospitality boxes would continue until 3am.

The organisers have promised extra trains and buses, tighter security and more stewards to ease the strain on the city centre.

Several residents have lodged objections.

According to The Express, one urged the council to “carefully consider whether these extended hours are necessary and whether adequate safeguards can realistically prevent additional noise, disorder and disruption during the early hours”, adding, “I ask the Council to refuse the application in its current form.”

Another warned of the effect on families living close to the stadium, “The shouting, singing, and inevitable anti-social behaviour at that hour is going to completely wake the whole house up and leave us with exhausted, stressed children. I know this is a massive sporting event for the city, but letting it run into the early hours of the morning is going to cause absolute chaos for those of us living right next to it.

Supporters of the plan point to the boost for local businesses from visitors and spending across the fight weekend. A refusal could force organisers to change the schedule or accept tighter limits.

Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories

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