Cardiff hotels sell out as Joshua-Fury fight looms

Hotels in Cardiff are reportedly filling up ahead of a potential December date for the long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

December 12 has emerged as a possible date for the all-British clash, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium currently viewed as the leading venue for the bout.

The growing demand for accommodation has added to speculation that the fight could finally be staged in the Welsh capital, although no official announcement has been made.

The Parkgate, the Welsh Rugby Union-owned hotel located next to the Principality Stadium, is reportedly fully booked for the weekend. Rooms at the Cardiff city-centre Marriott and Holiday Inn are also said to be unavailable for December 12.

December 11 is being considered as an alternative date.

The venue has remained one of the major issues surrounding negotiations for the fight, which has been the subject of months of speculation.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has repeatedly maintained that the bout should take place in the United Kingdom, despite suggestions that the United States could offer greater financial returns.

Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive and Zuffa Boxing co-founder Dana White has previously claimed that Hearn was standing in the way of the proposed fight.

Hearn has rejected the allegation, insisting that Joshua had been offered substantially more money to fight in the United States but chose to prioritise a British venue.

“Anthony Joshua could have taken many millions more to do the fight in America. We want the fight in Britain. The support that we have had on social media, my social media, AJ’s social media, has made us double down on our principles on this. We are not trying to hurt the fight,” Hearn said.

Wembley Stadium has also been mentioned as a possible UK venue, but Hearn said the final decision on the location would rest with Joshua.

For now, Cardiff’s hotel bookings and the emergence of a possible December date have added to expectations surrounding a fight that has yet to receive an official confirmation.