The long-awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua takes place in December at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium; the two titans of British boxing are ready for the night, but is Cardiff?
Broadcasting giant, Netflix, originally eyed up New York to stage the fight, however, due to Anthony Joshua’s contract agreements of only fighting in the UK, the fight was transferred to the other side of the pond, finally taking place in Cardiff. New York to Cardiff is a vast change; both fans and those who work within the boxing industry struggle to believe that the small city is able to host such an important, exciting event. When asked about the choice of location at the press conference, event organiser Turki Alalshihk said:
“I wanted this fight to be in Wembley… In the end, Wales delivered and the fight is still in the UK. It’s the country of Ryan Giggs, let’s do it!”
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium hosts up to 80,000 fans, the stadium has been home to all sorts of events, including: sports matches, Hyrox events and concerts. The greatly successful and talented artist, Taylor Swift, hosted a onenight show at the stadium in 2024, which sold out from thousands of Swifties; so if this could happen without a flaw, what is stopping people from believing Cardiff can host?
We know the stadium is a go, but what else? Cardiff’s transportation system holds a vast amount of opportunities of great value to its residents and visitors, including multiple train stations, taxi services and bus routes that stem across the whole city. When under pressure due to big events, delays and traffic seem to increase and become an issue, but this is not uncommon and happens to every city. Many would also argue that Cardiff is very much walkable — with the right shoes and weather!
Locals of Cardiff have spoken out about the event, and there appears to be a mixed reaction, with many saying that the fans and supporters of boxing are unwelcome in Cardiff due to stereotypical actions and behaviour. They believe that the fight will bring antisocial attitudes and create an unsafe environment for the many students and young people that usually inhabit the city on late nights. Others welcome the event, believing that it will bring a boost of tourism and economic activity to the city, supporting local businesses and shining a spotlight on what Cardiff has to offer.
The Principality Stadium has hosted many events, artists and celebrations for years. London seems to always be a favourite for important moments, but the humble other option of Cardiff brings forward such opportunity, and the welcome thought of accessibility for Welsh people that is often never given. After all, the main focus is safety, enjoyment and hospitality, and for these checklist qualities, Cardiff should not be overlooked.