FROM Boardwalk Hall to the Convention Center, Atlantic City’s venues have hosted boxing’s elite.
On Saturday, April 12, Boardwalk Hall becomes the centre of the boxing universe when Jaron Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis put their world titles on the line in a welterweight world title unification.
The iconic Boardwalk Hall was once accustomed to staging such events and while today Las Vegas and Riyadh dominate today’s boxing landscape, this weekend’s marquee event reminds us of Atlantic City’s storied past.
There is a proud history, however, which Atlantic City and boxing share together and Boxing News decided to take a trip back and look at some of the more memorable moments and fights in A.C.
ROBERTO DURAN vs IRAN BARKLEY
Convention Center – February 24, 1989
When everything great about boxing comes together, you get something like Iran Barkley vs. Roberto Duran. The latter was 37 years old and into his 21st year as a pro but this was arguably his finest hour. Barkley’s physical advantages were obvious but Duran was a grand master and couldn’t be pinned down. Intensity, exchanges and boxing IQ thrilled the thousands in attendance.
The fight erupted early. Barkley was landing but Duran was taking his shots and firing back. The great Panamanian showed his elusiveness and made Barkley punch air at times. Duran put everything into his shots and made the WBC Middleweight champion pay for everything he threw.
This was Barkley’s first defence and was staring at a short reign when Duran dropped him in round 11. Such was the close nature of the fight any advantage could prove decisive. Duran won by split decision to become a four-weight champion. Duran proved timeless, later saying he was ‘like a bottle of wine—the older, the better.’
LENNOX LEWIS vs SHANNON BRIGGS
Convention Center – March 28, 1998
A chaotic and thrilling heavyweight shoot-out that proved Lewis was not a “soft Brit” as Briggs had called him in the build-up.
Briggs came out with aggression and intent but not the stamina required to outlast someone like Lewis. The WBC champion needed all his composure and nous to keep the challenger at bay using his jab and superior technique to weather the storm.
This was a heavyweight slugfest, though. Briggs brought Brooklyn swagger but couldn’t survive Lewis’ precision. His reckless style left him wide open and was dropped in rounds 4 and 5. In the end Lewis was a level above and stopped him in the fifth.
ARTURO GATTI vs MICKY WARD III
Boardwalk Hall – June 7, 2003
A fitting end to an epic trilogy that cemented their places in fans’ hearts around the world.
The third 10-round contest may not have been good as the first but it bettered the second. Gatti tried to box and move but Ward, his greatest adversary, drew him in for one more slugfest. It could only have gone that way. Gatti injured his hand in round three. Not that it mattered because the war continued and the two warriors carried everyone watching it with them.
Ward continued to pour forward, they threw punches right until the final bell. Gatti was a deserved winner taking the trilogy 2-1. A bond was secured between both, an embrace at the end showed the respect. Their legendary series lives on over 20 years later.
KELLY PAVLIK vs JERMAIN TAYLOR I
Boardwalk Hall – September 29, 2007
One of the greatest comebacks in the 21st century. The blue-collar hero from Youngstown against the middleweight champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medallist.
Pavlik went down in round two, suddenly looking like the ‘overrated’ fighter Taylor’s coach, Emmanuel Steward, had claimed. The champion tried to close the show but Pavlik, nicknamed ‘The Ghost’, survived.
The challenger began to get a grip of the fight using his trusted jab and in the seventh his thunderous right hand caught Taylor and had him in all sorts of trouble. Sensing opportunity Pavlik and unloaded an onslaught of punches which Taylor never looked like surviving. A throwback fight which crowned a new champion and birthed a new star all in one memorable night.
BERNARD HOPKINS vs KELLY PAVLIK
Boardwalk Hall – October 18, 2008
Kelly Pavlik was supposed to be too young, too fresh and too strong for the ageing Hopkins. Pavlik’s middleweight titles would not be on the line instead he and Hopkins would weigh around 170lbs.
This non-title light heavyweight bout proved to be a night of ‘I told you so’ from Hopkins. The Philadelphian threw an assortment of shots at Pavlik who had no answer for the veteran who toyed with him and served up a clinic.
Hopkins had been accused of playing it safe but this time wanted to stop Pavlik and remind everyone of the man who beat Felix Trinidad and Antonio Tarver. This night was Hopkins turning back the clock in a one-sided fight that proved class is permanent.
