Most Iconic Fighting Venues
Few things are more thrilling and entertaining than watching a fight between two professionals giving their all to come out on top. The sheer adrenaline, unfiltered physicality, and raw emotion of fights are enough to get any fan cheering on their favorite without resolve.
While fights can take place anywhere, like in the back alley or even the parking lot, the best fights are those organized at venues that know how to add to the suspense and atmosphere of a classic showdown.
Some venues, however, sucker punch others when it comes to setting, atmosphere and theatrics. Some are so good at creating the perfect chemistry for a fight that they have become the top places to watch any upcoming match. Here are a few of the most iconic venues in the fighting scene.
Caesar’s Palace (Las Vegas)
Probably the most iconic and well-known fighting venue is Caesar’s Palace. The Colosseum at this famous hotel and casino seats around 4,100 screaming spectators and has a rich history of incredible fights.
Living up to its name taken from the Roman era, the venue has hosted fighting legends like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Mike Tyson. Aside from fighting, the venue is also home to many concerts and performances by other entertainment stars.
Madison Square Garden (New York City)
Madison Square Garden is all about bringing massive performances to the heart of New York City. With enough space to accommodate 20,700 people, the venue is a hotspot for large sporting, entertainment, and fighting events.
MSG, as it is commonly known, is often associated with fighting matches from WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and other minor boxing matches. However, big boxers have also appeared at the venue, including Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, and Evander Holyfield.
MGM Grand (Las Vegas)
Located at one of the largest hotels and casinos in Sin City, the MGM Grand arena is where fighting legends are born. The arena, which can accommodate almost 17,000 people and is a stone’s throw from the best slot machine games available in the city, is the perfect place to see UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) action.
While relatively young compared to other venues, it has already held some of the century’s most anticipated and viewed fights. These showdowns include household names like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, and Mike Tyson.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City)
While other venues are known for their incredible fights, Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall is known for something even more remarkable—being the home of the legendary Mike Tyson. The venue can seat about 22,700 screaming fans who can cheer on their favorite fighter.
Aside from hosting fights by Joey Giardello, Dick Tiger, and Mike Tyson, the venue is also where you can catch many concerts and entertainment performances. Amongst these is the Miss America pageant.
Yankee Stadium (New York City)
Even though this venue is best known for being one of the most iconic baseball stadiums in the country, it also has a rich history of hosting fights. With space for 30,000 fans, the stadium is sure to offer an electrifying atmosphere.
Matches taking center stage at the stadium have included athletes like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, and Floyd Patterson. The stadium is also the place to be for many other events and shows.
Thomas and Mack Centre (Paradise)
Located inside the University of Nevada campus, the Thomas & Mack Center is well known for its sporting performances and multiple other events. These include performances by Elton John, ACDC, and the World Music Awards, which have sold out all 19,500 seats.
Aside from being home to multiple WWE events, the arena has also seen UFC fights and regular matches between fighters like Manny Pacquiao, Jessie Vargas, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and Pernell Whitaker.
Cow Place San Francisco (San Francisco)
Holding almost 16,500 spectators, Cow Place San Francisco has been the venue for a massive number of sporting events. Aside from professional fighting matches, the venue has also been home to basketball games, ice hockey matches, concerts, and political gatherings.
Fighters who have been seen battling it out here include Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson. The venue’s fight history goes back so far that even “the Greatest” Muhammad Ali fought here when he was still known by the name Cassius Clay.
Detroit Olympia (Detroit)
When it was built, the Olympic Stadium in Detroit was easily one of the biggest venues in the country. It seated approximately 15,000 fans and was known for its high-profile fighting matches.
Athletes who fought it out at this venue included Jake LaMotta, Marcel Serdang, and Sugar Ray Robinson. Unfortunately, while this venue will remain iconic due to its contribution to professional boxing, it closed in 1980 and was demolished in 1987.
The Great Western Forum (Inglewood)
Holding around 17,500 people, the Great Western Forum, better known simply as the Forum, was once the place to watch a fight. These matches were in addition to the many other sporting events the venue catered to.
Fights here included names like Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton II, and Mike Alvarado. It is also the venue known for the career launch of Juan Manuel Márquez. Starting in the 1990s, he is one of the best fighters who first fought at the Forum.
