Boxing is a sport that pulls hundreds of paying spectators to occasions worldwide each week.
The game itself has been round for hundreds of years. A few of the most famous athletes in recorded historical past, comparable to Muhammad Ali, had been boxers. Right this moment, boxers like Anthony Joshua and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez appeal to a few of the largest crowds to boxing occasions. Nonetheless, the numbers they’ve attracted are nonetheless nicely beneath the largest estimated attendance of all time.
On this article, Massive Battle Weekend goes down reminiscence lane to see what the largest crowds in boxing have been. Under, in ascending order, are the highest 5 boxing attendances within the sport’s historical past. Word: Figures beneath are the reported estimates of the attendances.
Prime 5 Boxing Attendances of All Time
5. Dmitry Chudinov vs Mehdi Bouadla
Dmitry Chudinov and Mehdi Bouadla headlined a card in Sevastopol, Russia, in August 2014. Based on estimates, roughly 100,000 folks had been in attendance for this struggle. To be clear, they weren’t all there for the boxing. An open-air motorcycle present additionally came about on the venue. The struggle itself noticed Chudinov drop Bouadla as soon as every in rounds one, two and three earlier than the bout was put to an finish. Chudinov received this middleweight contest by way of technical knockout in spherical three.
4. Gene Tunney vs Jack Dempsey
A reported 120,557 had been on the Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia, PA, to observe Gene Tunney develop into heavyweight champion in opposition to Jack Dempsey in September 1926. In a 10-round title struggle, Tunney went on to win by unanimous resolution. He would additionally win their rematch in an iconic struggle that has since been nicknamed “The Lengthy Rely Battle.”
3. Julio César Chávez vs. Greg Haugen
Julio César Chávez defended his WBC tremendous light-weight by way of fifth-round technical knockout in opposition to Greg Haugen in February 1993. The struggle came about on the Estadio Azteca in México. A reported 132,247 had been in attendance as they noticed Chávez pummel Haugen from pillar to submit earlier than the struggle got here to an finish.
2.Tony Zale vs. Billy Pryor
Admission was free to this middleweight contest between Tony Zale and Billy Pryor on the Juneau Park in Milwaukee, WI. The Pabst Brewing Firm had been sponsoring the occasion, leading to 135,000 folks to attend. Zale knocked down a sport Pryor a number of occasions earlier than knocking him out in spherical 9.
Dmitry Chudinov vs Jorge Navarro
A 12 months previous to taking over Bouadla, Chudinov fought Jorge Navarro in Sevastopol – with an open-air motorcycle present additionally happening. Some put the recorded attendance at 170,000, whereas different estimates have it on the 200,000 mark. In the long run – Chudinov made mild work of Navarro as he went on to win by way of second spherical knockout.
