Fights in Cardiff Face Delay Over Resident Concerns

The heavyweight match between British-Nigerian Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury on December 11 is uncertain. Residents of Cardiff have raised concerns about the fight running late into the night.

The fight is set for the Principality Stadium. Ring walks are planned for 1am on Saturday, December 12. The stadium operators, Millennium Stadium plc, have asked Cardiff Council to let them extend the venue’s license for boxing and wrestling events. They want to move the usual 1am finish to 3am for this special occasion.

The stadium would then close at 3.30am. The late start aims to fit prime-time viewing in the United States on Netflix. Saudi Arabia’s boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh, and Dana White had wanted New York’s Madison Square Garden to host the fight.

Cardiff Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will make a decision on the application on November 25. This is just over two weeks before the fight. Public bars in the concourse would stop serving alcohol at 1am. Hospitality boxes would still serve drinks until 3am.

The organisers plan to provide extra trains and buses, better security, and more stewards to help manage the crowd in the city centre. Still, several residents have complained about the late hours.

According to The Express, one resident asked 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.” They added, “I ask the Council to refuse the application in its current form.”

Another resident expressed worries about families living close to the stadium. They said, “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.”

Those in support of the plan highlight the boost it could bring to local businesses from visitors during the fight weekend. If the council refuses the application, organisers might have to change the fight's schedule or accept stricter limits.