Boxing Venues/Arenas you've been to?

[DaxxKahn]

The one that stands out the most and was my live introduction to boxing was Festival hall in Melbourne in the early to mid 60's. All men no women like the pubs backs then. Men all dresses in white shirts and ties or old pinstriped suits smoking and sly drinking out of hip flasks, leaning over the backs of folding iron chairs, making and taking bets with the people all around them and others just yelling and screaming waving hands of cash at the ring and the fight that you could see through the clouds of smoke.

When the fights were finished, the audience would pelt the ring with their spare change for the fighters.
The corner men who looked like butchers to me in white shirts with some smeers over them would scramble around on all fours getting what extra they could for their fighters to split up between them after wards,while the next bout was introduced. Loads of men had greased slick back dark hair in those days for some reason , most wore belts and ties etc and suit jackets over white shirts like some night time uniform from the lower to middle classes making out they were business men or something.

Good stuff for me to see at about 6 to 8 years old, never saw anyone as young there the couple of times I did get to go along.

My goodness man...Was this Pre Sullivan?......

Peltuing the ring with Change....Were there spikes on the shoes

[Andre]

The one that stands out the most and was my live introduction to boxing was Festival hall in Melbourne in the early to mid 60's. All men no women like the pubs backs then. Men all dresses in white shirts and ties or old pinstriped suits smoking and sly drinking out of hip flasks, leaning over the backs of folding iron chairs, making and taking bets with the people all around them and others just yelling and screaming waving hands of cash at the ring and the fight that you could see through the clouds of smoke.

When the fights were finished, the audience would pelt the ring with their spare change for the fighters.
The corner men who looked like butchers to me in white shirts with some smeers over them would scramble around on all fours getting what extra they could for their fighters to split up between them after wards,while the next bout was introduced. Loads of men had greased slick back dark hair in those days for some reason , most wore belts and ties etc and suit jackets over white shirts like some night time uniform from the lower to middle classes making out they were business men or something.

Good stuff for me to see at about 6 to 8 years old, never saw anyone as young there the couple of times I did get to go along.

My goodness man...Was this Pre Sullivan?......

Peltuing the ring with Change....Were there spikes on the shoes

About 1965 I think, my dad cant remember exactly when it was either.

[DaxxKahn]

The one that stands out the most and was my live introduction to boxing was Festival hall in Melbourne in the early to mid 60's. All men no women like the pubs backs then. Men all dresses in white shirts and ties or old pinstriped suits smoking and sly drinking out of hip flasks, leaning over the backs of folding iron chairs, making and taking bets with the people all around them and others just yelling and screaming waving hands of cash at the ring and the fight that you could see through the clouds of smoke.

When the fights were finished, the audience would pelt the ring with their spare change for the fighters.
The corner men who looked like butchers to me in white shirts with some smeers over them would scramble around on all fours getting what extra they could for their fighters to split up between them after wards,while the next bout was introduced. Loads of men had greased slick back dark hair in those days for some reason , most wore belts and ties etc and suit jackets over white shirts like some night time uniform from the lower to middle classes making out they were business men or something.

Good stuff for me to see at about 6 to 8 years old, never saw anyone as young there the couple of times I did get to go along.

My goodness man...Was this Pre Sullivan?......

Peltuing the ring with Change....Were there spikes on the shoes

About 1965 I think, my dad cant remember exactly when it was either.

Cool deal....As a kid it must have seemed like the craziest thing in the world...These days something like that would be on the news guys in jail etc....Good Story very interesting

[porkypara]

Cardiff Ice Rink was a great venue for boxing.My dad use to take me there as a kid for Robbie Regan fights.

Watched lots of fights there over the years and seen some top fighers.

Calzaghe
Naz
Enzo
Steve Robinson
Nicky Piper
Crawford Ashley
Paul Hodkinson

To name a few off the top of my head.

The Ice rink has been knocked down now so it the CIA is Cardiffs main boxing arean now.

Its good but the Ice will always be number 1 in my heart.

[WelshDevilRob]

Thanks for the Great replies - very interested in peoples oppinions as a good reference of places I'd like to go see fights at one day.

I left one venue off my list - The 1st fight I attended Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno at the old Cardiff Arms Park Stadium - a crowd of approx 30,000 in the open air with a Great atmosphere.
Joe Calzaghe made his debut on the same bill.

[porkypara]

Thanks for the Great replies - very interested in peoples oppinions as a good reference of places I'd like to go see fights at one day.

I left one venue off my list - The 1st fight I attended Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno at the old Cardiff Arms Park Stadium - a crowd of approx 30,000 in the open air with a Great atmosphere.
Joe Calzaghe made his debut on the same bill.

I was there for that one as well.

Lou Dova (Holyfield's then manager) was sitting in front of me for most of the undercard fights.