Top 5 Highest Attended Boxing Matches
For the last century, boxing has been one of the most popular sports in the world. Tens of thousands of fans have flocked to arenas and stadiums to see legends do battle. The impact of boxing even extends beyond the confines of the ring, as it has significantly influenced various facets of popular culture, including movies and music. Everyone knows today about the sequence of Rocky movies, or at least some lyrics of songs like Eye of the Tiger. The video game industry has been affected as well, inspiring developers across different genres. As a result, a diverse range of themed games have emerged, from EA Sports’ Fight Night Champion to online casino NZ fight-themed slots like Wild Fight.
Having this in mind, it would be valuable to see what are the top five highest attended boxing matches of all time.
Tony Zale vs. Billy Pryor(Attendance: 135,132)
In 1941, middleweight champion of the world Tony Zale defended his title against challenger Billy Pryor. The event was open to the public at Juneau Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that drew a staggering 135,132 spectators.
The over 135k fans in attendance saw Tony Zale win by TKO after knocking Billy Pryor down 8 times. After the last knockdown, the fight was stopped in the 8th round.
It’s been over 83 years since the fight took place and it still holds the record for the largest attended event.
Julio Caesar Chavez vs. Greg Haugen(Attendance: 132,274)
Coming in second on the highest attended boxing matches ever is Julio Caesar Chavez vs. Greg Haugen. This fight took place at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, which drew 132,274 spectators.
Leading up to the fight, Greg Haugen claimed the Mexican legend’s then-undefeated record was padded. Haugen said Chavez fought nothing but “Tijuana taxi drivers” to pad his record.
This claim hyped up the fight and brought 100k+ Chavez fans to the Aztec Stadium to see their hero fight. The Mexican legend put a beating on Haugen and showed why he was a great champion.
Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney 1(Attendance: 120,757)
In 1926, Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney 1 set the then record for the largest boxing match ever. The two heavyweight legends of the 1920s packed Soldier Field in Chicago with an attendance of 120,757.
At this time, Dempsey was at the height of his popularity and seemed unbeatable. That was until Gene Tunney came in and took the fight to the champion Dempsey.
Controversy swirled around this fight as Dempsey avoided a 10-count in the 7th by not going to a neutral corner. Despite being robbed of a stoppage win, Tunney would win the decision and earn upset of the year honors.
Almost a century later and this is still one of the highest attended boxing matches ever.
Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney 2(Attendance: 104,943)
Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey would have another epic clash at Soldier Field in 1927. Their second match was also one of the highest attended boxing matches ever with 104,943 paid attendance.
In the rematch, Tunney went out to prove that the first fight wasn’t a fluke and he was a true champion. Once again, he controlled the fight and won another decision to retain the title.
Max Schmelling vs. Walter Neusel(Attendance: 102,000)
Fifth on the list of the highest attended boxing matches ever was Max Schmelling vs. Walter Neusel. This fight took place in 1934 in Schmelling’s home country of Germany.
It had been six years since Max fought at home and he received a hero’s welcome. He won his home bout by 9th round TKO and went on to shockingly upset Joe Louis to win the heavyweight title.
