The super-middleweight fight attracted a global television audience and the biggest indoor crowd that the UK has ever seen. Welshman Joe Calzaghe returned to Cardiff in front of home fans for his 21st title defence, during which a unanimous decision declared him reigning champion once again, retaining his title and the WBO crown he has held for over 10 years.
Sports Network, organisers of the event, maximised the number of seats for the sell-out crowd, while Arena Seating provided nearly 10,000 extra seats for the fight.
Mike Goodall, of production company Ringcraft Boxing Services, contracted Arena Seating to provide an additional 8,800 tip-up seats for the public audience on the flat, as well as a supplementary block of 360 tiered seats, upholstered with carpeted aisles for VIPs. The temporary seating specialists also provided the temporary decking platform for the ring itself, with a supporting 550 ringside seats for devoted boxing fans and guests at the event.
"We worked closely with Ringcraft Boxing Services to design the boxing ring platform and build the blocked seats for the early morning fight," commented Dave Withey, sales director for Arena Seating. "Our team worked through the night once the fight was over to ensure that all the seating was dismantled and removed in time for the pitch to be replaced at noon the following day."
(Jim Evans)
