Fury vs Joshua Is Reportedly Set For A 1AM Ringwalk — Yes, Really — And Cardiff Has To Say Yes First

Set your alarms, boxing fans, because the biggest all-British fight in years is apparently happening when most of us are DEEP in a REM cycle.

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is lined up for a 1am ringwalk at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, according to Sky Sports and BBC News. Yes, really.

The Tea ☕

• The fight is billed for Friday 11 December, but the main event will land in the early hours of Saturday morning UK time.
• An application to Cardiff Council says the ringwalk starts around 1am, after a short live music performance, with the stadium open until 3.30am.
• The council hasn't signed it off yet. Anyone can object or comment until 3 November.

Why 1am, Though?

Great question. Sky Sports points out that the timing would suit peak viewing hours in the United States.

It also notes that Saudi Arabia's boxing boss Turki Alalshikh, his American business partner Dana White and broadcasters Netflix had originally pushed for New York's Madison Square Garden as the venue. Cardiff won out, but the late-night slot looks like it's staying.

So Cardiff gets the fight. America gets the primetime. Everyone in the UK gets a very long night and a very rough Saturday.

The Paperwork Plot Twist

Here's the bit that makes this a story: the venue doesn't legally have the green light yet.

Per BBC News, Millennium Stadium plc has applied to extend the permitted hours for boxing and wrestling from a 1am cut-off to 3am on 12 December, "on a very limited one-off occasion." The application also covers:

• Live music for a short performance right before the ringwalk
• Recorded music, late-night refreshments and alcohol sales until 3am
• The stadium closing at 3.30am instead
• The roof shut throughout, with beefed-up security and stewarding

The application has to be advertised for 28 consecutive days. If nobody objects, the council must grant it. If objections land, there will be a hearing, and the conditions could change or the application could even be refused altogether.

Is a 1am boxing blockbuster about to be derailed by a licensing notice? Almost certainly not. Are we going to refresh the council page anyway? Maybe.

The Backdrop

This fight has been a more-than-a-decade saga, and BBC News notes the pair haven't shared a ring since a sparring session back in 2010. The bout was confirmed on 24 September after several days of uncertainty.

Cardiff Council leader Chris Weaver said the event could bring "significant economic benefits" to the city, with local business owners expecting fans from all corners of the globe.

And the pre-fight chaos is already in full swing. Joshua has bragged he'll knock Fury out in a round, per Sky Sports' coverage, while BBC Sport reported earlier this month that Fury wants his "old pal" President Trump to lead his ringwalk. We are NOT okay, and it's still two months away.

So Who's Staying Up?

A 1am ringwalk means the real action probably kicks in well after most pubs have called last orders. Great for the US audience, brutal for anyone with a Saturday morning commitment.

Still, it's the biggest all-British heavyweight showdown in a generation. We'd probably stay up for it. Probably.

Are you staying up until 3am for Fury vs Joshua, or will you be catching the highlights over breakfast? Sound off below. 🥊

Sources: Sky Sports | BBC News | BBC Sport