POLICE will pay extra attention to the Tim Tszyu fight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre to ensure Sydneysiders and people from other banned areas do not attend.
The capacity of what was a near sold-out event was halved last week when COVID-19 restrictions were reintroduced in NSW.
The promoters have been forced to refund all ticketholders, a process that could take up to three weeks, and new tickets to the fight - now against Steve Spark after Michael Zerafa withdrew - went on sale yesterday. A crowd of 3000 is expected at the Broadmeadow venue.
Newcastle City Police Commander, Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey, said Sydneysiders and anyone from other banned areas, including those interstate, should not buy tickets.
"If you live in the Greater Sydney area, as defined by the public health order, which includes Wollongong, Blue Mountains and the Central Coast, do not come," he said. "If you are detected, you will be proceeded against by way of penalty infringement notice."
Supt Humphrey said the "entire venue from the footpath in, including car parks" was a licenced premises and "as such both the licensee and their employees and NSW Police will be asking for identification to see where you come from".
"If you think you're smarter than us, and you think you can sneak in to watch the fight live, you will receive a ticket and be directed to leave the city."
Spectators will be required to wear masks at the venue, except for when they are eating or drinking.
There will be a QR code sign-in system in place.
No Limit Boxing promoter George Rose said it was unfortunate the event's capacity had to be halved and tickets refunded.
"We've got to go through the Ticketek process - what they usually do for other major sporting events. That's a process that they do," he said.
"We can't control what happens with COVID. All we can do is adapt and react to what we need to do and ensure our spectators are safe.
"That's the most important thing. We've public encouraged people from the Greater Sydney area not to purchase tickets.
"We want the Newcastle locals to get behind it. Newcastle is a safe-zone at the moment."
