Will Atlantic City Ever Become Boxing’s US Capital?

However, incremental changes from the rise of Vegas to the accessibility of air travel, contributed to the area's decline.

Today, the de facto capital for big-name boxing remains Las Vegas. In fact, Caesars Palace was responsible for building one of the first boxing-specific venues in 1976, which was then topped by the MGM Grand Garden in 1994.

Within two decades, major boxing matches had faded in Atlantic City - and since then, there have been other major changes for the seaside town.

Despite the fact that both Atlantic City and Vegas have premier in-person gaming opportunities, there's been a shift toward playing with a live dealer kind of experiences in the last five years.

While this might pose problems for brick-and-mortar establishments, it's also a problem for those who visit either location to see a major fight, as they'll likely expect to spend some time playing table games.

This even extends to the boxers themselves. Ove the course of their careers, both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson have had longstanding relationships with popular casinos on the Strip and the Boardwalk. As such, a future in boxing is a plus for all peripheral entertainment industries.

Since the Great Recession and a devastating visit from Hurricane Sandy, local groups in New Jersey have poured resources into revitalizing the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. But will big-name boxing fights ever see the same hype in the seaside town as they once did in the 1960s and 70s?

1992's PASPA: A Nail in the Coffin

Boxing aficionados might have already wondered-did boxing really leave Atlantic City? Despite huge exhibition and title fights in Vegas, local businessmen like Donald Trump rallied around New Jersey and championed cash prizes for major fights, as well as the right to bet on the outcome.

This helped keep Atlantic City on the map throughout the 1980s, during which time there were over one hundred fights per year. In 1985 alone, there were 145 fights hosted in Atlantic City. However, the final nail in the coffin came with a federal ban on sports betting, which passed in 1992.

Following the Great Recession from 2006-2008, there was no investment massive enough to help save the local casino-resorts. By 2017, half of the casinos had closed and, with them, their boxing venues.

2018 PASPA Repeal: A Glimmer of Hope

New Jersey lawmakers continued to challenge the Supreme Court's decision to ban all sports betting outside of Vegas in 1992 - and, eventually, it won. In 2018, the decision was repealed, which allowed each state to start regulating its own sports betting markets. New Jersey, along with neighbor Pennsylvania, was one of the first states to launch its in-person and online betting markets.

During the same year, the Hard Rock Casino purchased Trump's failed Taj Mahal and spared no penny in refurbishing the resort. In its scheme was a boxing venue, the Etess Arena, which is now one of the premier locations for AC boxing fights.

By the time New Jersey had launched its betting markets, the Hard Rock was positioned to start accepting bets on local fights and other sports. The revenue from both casino handle and sports betting has been enough to stabilize new openings like the Hard Rock.

Other locations have taken notice, too. Today, the area is home to multiple quality boxing venues that regularly attract bettors and fans, including Bally's Atlantic City, Boardwalk Hall, and the Borgata. The venues are known for being intimate, while venues like the Showboat Hotel are highlighting local boxers in multi-part series.

Though most major fights still take place in Vegas, there's been a huge emphasis on boxing in Atlantic City's latest redevelopment. Whether they'll compete meaningfully with the big title fights of Vegas remains to be seen, but the infrastructure and interest is certainly there.