TAKE A LOOK BACK AT BOSTON’S RICH BOXING HISTORY

BOSTON (Tej zaum 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. Rau Saturday, Tej zaum 23, world championship boxing is officially back in Beantown when Premier Boxing Champions rau NBC returns with a showdown between Andre Dirrell thiab James DeGale at Boston University’s Agganis Arena with coverage on NBC beginning at 4:30 p.m. THIAB/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 Ricky “Hitman” Hatton swb Luis Collazo in a welterweight world title fight, thaum lub sij hawm Eric Aiken chim siab yav tas los undefeated 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,” hais tias Tony DeMarco, 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^th century. Los ntawm 1902-1908 the small town of Chelsea that borders Boston became the mecca for boxing as the sport was banned throughout most of America. Txawm li cas los, 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.

Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, Fenway Park, famed home of the Boston Red Sox, hosted 29 professional boxing cards between 1919 thiab 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. Sullivan, Brockton heavyweight Rocky Marcianoand Brockton resident and middleweight champion Zoo kawg nkaus Marvin Hagler. Boston’s own featherweight championsSandy Saddler thiab George Dixon plus Boston promoter Rip Valenti have all been enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

“Fighting in Boston was a great experience,” hais tias John Ruiz, 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, Pawg. both had an impact on the heavyweight landscape decades after each other. Tom McNeeley fought heavyweight world champion Floyd Patterson nyob rau hauv 1961 and dropped the champion before eventually succumbing to a fourth round knockout. Over 30 years later, his son Peter was the first man to fight Mike Tyson 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, Dr. Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure was an Olympic Gold medalist, a doctor of psychology and a Massachusetts boxing commissioner. While at the 1960 Olympics, McClure served as the co-captain for Team USA and was the roommate of fellow gold medalist Cassius av nplaum. While he never reached his potential as a professional, he received opportunities against world class opponents Luis Manuel Rodriguez ob zaug thiabJose Torres, losing all three by decision. He also lost a decision and fought to a draw against Rubin “Nag xob nag cua” Carter. 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 Micky Ward. Hugely popular for his exciting style, Ward compiled a 38-13 pro record with 27 knockouts. 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,” hais tias Ward. “It was like I was fighting at home…it was home for me as a fighter. Fans traveled a lot to my fights, heev. They were a little crazy, drank lot of beer and were more vocal than most places I ever fought. I loved it.”

Rau Saturday, Tej zaum 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. THIAB inside of Agganis Arena.

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Tickets for the return of big-time boxing to Boston, uas yog nce los ntawm DiBella Lom ze nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog Murphys Boxing, yog luv nqi ntawm $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 thiab $35, tsis xws li siv cov kev pab cuam nqi thiab se, thiab yog muag tam sim no. Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com. Mus rau nqi los ntawm lub xov tooj, hu Ticketmaster ntawm (800) 745-3000.

Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.nbcsports.com/boxing, www.AgganisArena.com thiabwww.dbe1.com, raws li nyob rau hauv TwitterPremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @JamesDeGale1, LouDiBella, DropkickMurphys, MurphysBoxing, @NBCSports and @AgganisArena and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/NBCSports, www.facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment,www.Facebook.com/DropkickMurphys thiab www.facebook.com/MurphysBoxing. Follow the conversation using #PremierBoxingChampions and #PBConNBC