The famous Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, formerly the Convention Center, is a US National Historic Landmark. Since boxing debuted there on February 2, 1887, the sport has gone through many unique eras. This seventh in a ten-part series will focus on the days since the name change as I write in advance of Saturday night's Women's World Unification fight between two undefeated champions: Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer.
Of the many great fighters to have boxed at the Boardwalk Hall, it is the name of Mike Tyson that probably stirs the most memories. Iron Mike defended his Undisputed title four times at the venue. One of those was his 91 second knockout of Michael Spinks back in '88. His other wins were over Tyrell Biggs, Larry Holmes and Carl "The Truth" Williams. In 1991, Evander Holyfield scored a win over George Foreman, one of his many victories in the building. In 1987, he successfully defended his IBF and WBA World Cruiserweight crowns with a KO of Dwight Muhammad Qawi. He also recorded a win over Pinklon Thomas, who will be a special guest on our radio show atblogtalkradio.com/theworldboxingreview this Saturday morning at 11am EDT. Other victims were Ray Mercer, Alex Stewart, Seamus McDonagh and Hasim Rahman. On December 14, 2002, he suffered his only loss in the place, a UD by Chris Byrd for the IBF World Heavyweight belt. To just name a few more who have been there, I would mention Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones, Jr., Floyd "The Money Man" Mayweather, Jr., Riddick Bowe, Julio Cesar Chavez, Hector "Macho" Camacho and Arturo Gatti. 2019 Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Inductees Roberto Duran, Micky Ward, Iran Barkley and Bernard Hopkins also fought there. The 2003 Gatti vs. Ward fight was Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year.
One more historic note about the venerable Boardwalk Hall/Convention Center: it houses the world's largest pipe organ with over 33,000 pipes! It deteriorated during the last century, but an extensive renovation is currently underway, scheduled to be completed in 2023. Well, a few more notes: the 1964 Liberty Bowl was held there, the first indoor college football game: The Beatles played there in 1964, one week after the National Democratic Convention: the Miss America Pageant is synonymous with it: the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will hold their men's and women's basketball tournament there beginning in 2020 through 2022.
Just a little more pre-fight hype before I go: The media luncheon is Wednesday at Gallagher's Steak House in NYC. Tomorrow I'll profile Christina Hammer; the next day, Claressa Shields.
Bob Murray
The WBR
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