Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Sep 26

Fury-Joshua Dec. 11 Fight Nears Collapse as Unspecified Issue Puts Netflix Card in Peril

Updated

Updated · Bleacher Report · Sep 26

Fury-Joshua Dec. 11 Fight Nears Collapse as Unspecified Issue Puts Netflix Card in Peril

Q: Why are British boxing fans being forced to watch their biggest domestic showdown at 2 a.m. on home soil?

British fans are expected to get Fury-Joshua at about 2 a.m. because the event is being scheduled for U.S. prime time, even though it is taking place in Cardiff. The fight is set for Principality Stadium and will be streamed globally on Netflix. Organisers want the main event to land in the evening on the U.S. east coast, where a 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. UK ringwalk translates to roughly 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in America, a far more valuable television slot. That commercial logic appears to have outweighed the inconvenience to the home audience. This is the trade-off that came with keeping the bout in Britain. During negotiations, New York’s Madison Square Garden was strongly considered because Netflix and Saudi-backed organisers preferred a U.S. venue for global reach. Joshua’s side insisted the fight remain in the UK, and Cardiff emerged as the workable option because the Principality Stadium has a roof and experience hosting late-night boxing. But staying in Britain did not mean getting a British-friendly start time. There is also precedent. Ricky Hatton’s fight with Kostya Tszyu began around 2 a.m. in Manchester in 2005 for U.S. television, and Joe Calzaghe fought late-night bouts for the same reason, including in Cardiff. Promoters have indicated Fury-Joshua is likely to follow that model. So the reason is simple: the fight is on British soil, but the clock is being set for the biggest paying broadcast audience, which is in the United States.

2 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Sep 26

Mike Coppinger reported the Dec. 11 heavyweight bout in Cardiff could be called off, with replacement opponents already being discussed for the Netflix card.
Chris Mannix said an unspecified issue has left the fight "very much in peril," even though it remains officially scheduled at Principality Stadium.
Turki Alalshikh had only just announced the long-awaited matchup, which would finally pit former unified heavyweight champions Tyson Fury, 38, and Anthony Joshua, 36, against each other.
The latest setback follows Fury's claim that Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn were trying to pull out, threatening what had been billed as one of the biggest fights in British boxing.

Sources

Bleacher Report1h ago

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Heavyweight Fight in Peril

Yahoo Sports1h ago

Tyson Fury Accuses Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua of Pulling Out of Major Fight

With fierce promotional rivalries still boiling, could this long-awaited mega-fight still fall apart before the opening bell?

Was Fury's claim of a collapsing fight just a calculated marketing stunt to hype their massive Netflix debut?

Why are British boxing fans being forced to watch their biggest domestic showdown at 2 a.m. on home soil?

Sources

2 total

Bleacher Report1h ago

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Heavyweight Fight in Peril

Yahoo Sports1h ago

Tyson Fury Accuses Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua of Pulling Out of Major Fight

Fury-Joshua Dec. 11 Fight Nears Collapse as Unspecified Issue Puts Netflix Card in Peril

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