Is Portman Road preparing for a big boxing fight?

A Premier League football stadium could be preparing to host other sporting events, after a licensing application was lodged for boxing and wrestling bouts.

Ipswich Town Football Club (ITFC) has applied for the variation of its licence at Portman Road and it has appeared on the Ipswich Borough Council website.

British heavyweight champion and Ipswich Town fan Fabio Wardley said it was his "dream" to fight at the ground.

An ITFC spokesperson said: "Following infrastructure improvements to Portman Road over the past couple of years, it will not be uncommon for the stadium to apply for various licences to host events across different sectors; this is just one of many that will start to appear."

In October 2024, Wardley told BBC Radio Suffolk he wanted to fight at Portman Road, saying: "It's still the dream and it's on the cards".

"If anything it's closer than ever now because being with Frank Warren my promoter, he's done stadium shows before and he knows how to put them on.

"When it happens is still a massive question but pieces are definitely falling into place for this."

Ipswich Town chief executive, Mark Ashton, said in November 2024 that the club had been in discussion with Wardley about appearing at the ground and that it was in the "pipeline" but not "imminent".

The application has requested boxing or wrestling entertainment to take place between 12:00 and 22:30 on Sundays to Thursdays, as well as 12:00 to 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The applicant has also requested to be permitted to include live music performances, playing of recorded music, dance performances as well as alcohol sales and late night refreshments.

Portman Road underwent a series of improvements last summer to prepare the ground for Premier League football, including new media facilities, more executive boxes and the introduction of safe standing areas at the ground for the first time.

Posters advertising the change have been put up in the area around the ground with people able to have their say on the change until 24 April.

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