Published On: Sun, Jun 8th, 2025

Portman Road is transformed for night of boxing

Ipswich Town's Portman Road stadium is being transformed into a boxing arena ahead of a heavyweight fight.

The Suffolk ground is due to host about 20,000 spectators when hometown hero Fabio Wardley takes on undefeated Justis Huni on Saturday.

The British fighter is hoping for a better outcome on the pitch than his beloved Tractor Boys, who failed to register a Premier League home win in 2025.

Queensberry Promotions said the arena was "coming along nicely" as it shared some pictures ahead of the bout.

A drone shot shows a cover for a boxing ring being erected in the middle of the Portman Road stadium. A sheet has been placed over the pitch and rows of chairs placed on each side of the ring
Fabio Wardley will take on Justis Huni at Portman Road on Saturday night [Jamie Niblock/BBC]

Wardley was originally supposed to be fighting Jarrell Miller, who pulled out after suffering an injury in May.

Pictures have shown the stadium's famous pitch covered in protective plastic boards, with tall metal structures in place where the boxing ring is taking shape.

Wardley, who is boxing for the WBA interim title, said it was a "dream come true" to battle at the ground, which holds up to 30,000 fans for football.

He has won 19 of his 18 professional fights, with Huni winning all 12 bouts he has fought.

Ring walks are expected to take place at 21:50 BST, with gates opening at 16:30.

Workers wearing hi-vis jackets walking on the pitch at Portman Road. The pitch is mostly covered in protective plastic boards, but part of the playing surface remains exposed. There is a yellow heavy machinery vehicle putting large metal structures in place where the boxing ring will be. A stand with blue seats is on the right of the picture.
A sheet has been placed on top of the Portman Road pitch, as seen on Thursday [Jamie Niblock/BBC]
Workers wearing hi-vis jackets walking on the pitch at Portman Road, which is covered in protective plastic boards. There are yellow heavy machinery vehicles putting large metal structures in place where the boxing ring will be.
Gearing up: Wardley was originally supposed to battle US fighter Jarrell Williams [Jamie Niblock/BBC]
A large metal structure with a white roof, which all looks like a big tent, is in place in the middle of the pitch. It is surrounded by the football stadium's stands. Workers in hi-vis jackets are working around it and various vehicles are parked nearby. The pitch is covered in white protective boards.
The headline fighters are expected to walk on at 21:50 BST [Queensberry Promotions]

It will be the first time since 1946 that Portman Road has hosted boxing, according to TWTD.

Olympic medallist Lewis Richardson, from Colchester, is on the 10-fight undercard, as is Ipswich boxer Jack Williams.

According to Ipswich Town FC's website, the first fight of the night was expected to start at 16:40 BST.

About 10 fights were set to take place at Portman Road on Saturday, with gates opening at 16:30.

A drone photo shows a wide shot of Portman Road stadium, with construction of the boxing ring ongoing
The team has spent Friday and Saturday transforming the pitch at Portman Road ahead of a full schedule of boxing [Jamie Niblock/BBC]
A close up view of one of the stands at the stadium that has two levels. The chairs are blue, and in long rows which span across the whole picture. People are sat staring towards the right of the image where the boxing ring is.
Spectators take their seats in the ground ahead of a night of boxing [Connor Bennett/BBC]
View from the left side of the boxing arena from behind rows of chairs. Security in yellow hi-vis jackets are lined-up outside of the barriers next to the boxing ring.
Security lined-up outside of the barriers around the stage ready for the fight [Connor Bennett/BBC]

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