TAKE A LOOK BACK AT BOSTON’S RICH BOXING HISTORY

波士顿 (五月 20, 2015) – Boston is known for being home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the country, but many may not know that it is also a city that has had a long and rich history with the sweet science. 上 星期六, 五月 23, world championship boxing is officially back in Beantown when 总理拳击冠军 上 NBC returns with a showdown between 安德烈Dirrell 和 詹姆斯DeGale at Boston University’s Agganis Arena with coverage on NBC beginning at 4:30 P.M. AND/1:30 P.M. PT.

The last time Boston saw a world championship fight was May 23, 2006 when two world title fights took place at TD Bank Garden, formerly the Boston Garden. That night saw British superstar 瑞奇 “杀手” 哈顿 败 路易斯·科拉佐 in a welterweight world title fight, 而 埃里克·艾肯 心烦此前不败 Valdemir Pereira for a featherweight world title.

“Fighting in the Boston Garden was a great honor, never mind in a world title fight, but even a four rounder,” 说 托尼·德马科, who won the welterweight world title in 1955 at the Boston Garden. “I had more fights there than anybody (28), including my pro debut. It’s always good fighting at home. You’re more comfortable at home. The fans know and honor you. Boston fans were real fight fans.”

Boston has been deeply invested in boxing since the early 20^日 世纪. 从 1902-1908 the small town of Chelsea that borders Boston became the mecca for boxing as the sport was banned throughout most of America. 然而, Chelsea had a special ordinance that legalized boxing. It was during this time that Jack Johnson was faced with what he admitted was the toughest fight of his career, when he defended his heavyweight title against Sam Langford on April 6, 1906. Johnson won by a 15-round unanimous decision and refused to fight Langford again.

此外, Fenway Park, famed home of the Boston Red Sox, 托管 29 professional boxing cards between 1919 和 1956. Beyond just hosting big fights, Boston has also produced a slew of Hall of Fame talent who were either born in Massachusetts or called the state home.

Noteworthy names include Roxbury heavyweight champions John L. 沙利文, Brockton heavyweight 洛矶马尔恰诺and Brockton resident and middleweight champion 奇妙的马文·哈格勒. Boston’s own featherweight champions桑迪萨德勒 和 乔治·狄克逊 plus Boston promoter Rip Valenti have all been enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“Fighting in Boston was a great experience,” 说 约翰·鲁伊斯, a two-time heavyweight world champion from Chelsea. “Like any sport, Boston sports fans are true fans who follow your progress. I could feel their emotion wherever I fought. I will never forget them. I fought in Las Vegas a lot and there were always Boston fans there supporting me. I always appreciated them traveling all over the country to my fights.”

A father-son duo from Arlington, 质量. both had an impact on the heavyweight landscape decades after each other. 汤姆·麦克尼利 fought heavyweight world champion 弗洛伊德帕特森 在 1961 and dropped the champion before eventually succumbing to a fourth round knockout. 以上 30 多年后, 他的儿子 彼得 was the first man to fight 迈克·泰森 after he was released from prison, with the fight ending in McNeeley being disqualified.

One of the more unique athletes to come out of Boston, 博士. Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure was an Olympic Gold medalist, a doctor of psychology and a Massachusetts boxing commissioner. While at the 1960 奥运会, McClure served as the co-captain for Team USA and was the roommate of fellow gold medalist 卡修斯·克莱. While he never reached his potential as a professional, he received opportunities against world class opponents Luis Manuel Rodriguez 两次，何塞·托雷斯, losing all three by decision. He also lost a decision and fought to a draw against 鲁宾 “飓风” 卡特. After his professional boxing career, McClure served as a Massachusetts boxing commissioner before eventually retiring in the Boston area where he resides to this day.

Another greatly revered fighter to come out of the Boston-area is Lowell’s 米奇沃德. Hugely popular for his exciting style, Ward compiled a 38-13 亲记录 27 击倒. He was most known for the three epic fight of the year award-winning battles with the late Arturo Gatti. Ward’s life and career was portrayed in the award-winning film “The Fighter”, which starred Mark Wahlberg as Ward.

“It was great fighting in Boston. The fans were very supportive and knowledgeable about the game,” 沃德说：. “It was like I was fighting at home…it was home for me as a fighter. Fans traveled a lot to my fights, 太. They were a little crazy, drank lot of beer and were more vocal than most places I ever fought. I loved it.”

上 星期六, 五月 23 a new crop of young and hungry fighters will lay it all on the line, hoping to write the next exciting chapter of boxing history in the city of Boston. The action begins at 1:30 P.M. AND inside of Agganis Arena.

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Tickets for the return of big-time boxing to Boston, 这是由DiBella娱乐推广联同墨菲的拳击, 售价为 $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 和 $35, 不包括适用的服务费和税款, 与现已公开发售. Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com. 要通过电话进行充电, 致电特玛在 (800) 745-3000.

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