Boxing Venues/Arenas you've been to?

[WelshDevilRob]

Boxing Venues/Arenas you've been to?

Was just wondering what boxing venues people have been to and what they thought of them regardless of the fighting action?

I have only been to a few.

I've seen Joe Calzaghe twice at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and while I had cheap seats I had a good view and the venue is really good for holding boxing matches. Stewarding was plentiful and so were facilities. The closing roof turns it into a Great indoor arena.

Also I have been to the 02 Arena in London, which for the price of the ticket (£80) I had a superb view and was pretty close to the ring for the David Haye vs Enzo Maccarinelli fight. The arena itself is perfect for boxing to watch though I thought the facilities weren't geared up for a crowd of 20,000 and stewarding was very poor along with leaving at a late time - transport was not great getting from there.

Noise levels and atmosphere in both were tremendous.

So please post your experiences of venues from around the World.

[littlebif]

Been to Halem arena in Shefield for Hatton v Maussa
MEN arena for Hatton and Calzaghe fights
City of Manchester stadium Hatton - Lazcano
Millennium Stadium for Calzaghe fights
Thomas and Mack Las vegas for Calzaghe and Hatton fights
MGM Las vegas for Hatton fights.

[littlebif]

what the 02 arena like? do you get a good veiw from everywhere?

[WelshDevilRob]

what the 02 arena like? do you get a good veiw from everywhere?

For £80 it was absolutely superb. We we on the bottom level that has a slight slope. Very close. Infact as I am unlikely to afford Ringside I'd take those seats again as saw everything and the view was straight on.

[Kel]

Been to Halem arena in Shefield for Hatton v Maussa
MEN arena for Hatton and Calzaghe fights
City of Manchester stadium Hatton - Lazcano
Millennium Stadium for Calzaghe fights
Thomas and Mack Las vegas for Calzaghe and Hatton fights
MGM Las vegas for Hatton fights.

That's one thing I REALLY want to do, go to Vegas for a big fight. The only problem is convincing people to come with me instead of their usual holidays because if I go to Vegas I wan't to make a holiday of it. Go there for two weeks with the fight being around the end of the first week. Everyone wants to go to fucking Spain and shit instead.

[Mark TKO]

Leeds Town Hall for a Henry Wharton fight - forget who it was against

Manchester G-MEX for Eubank v Wharton

Sheffield Arena for Calzaghe v Eubank (and I think Eubank Thompson II ??)

Manchester MEN - Naz, Benn, Collins, Tyson, Eubank

Mandalay Bay - Lewis v Tua

MGM - Hatton v Mayweather


For me you can't beat the MEN when packed

[DaxxKahn]

MGM Grand
Thomas and Mack
Staples Center
MSG
Blue Horizon
Mandalay Bay
Boarwalk Hall
Spectrum
Honda Center
Home Depot Center
Ceasers Palace
Foxwoods
Taj Maj Mahal
Olympic Auditorium
Ariake Coloessum
The Pyramid
Tokyo Dome
Porsche Arena

About 2 dozen more and countless local shows througout the country

[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.

[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

[Kel]

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.

I enjoyed reading that mate cheers. The throwing of coins and the cornermen scrambling for them......sounds like something of the 1900's

[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.