Iconic Vegas Boxing Fights

Las Vegas is a spectacle in many ways – an iconic landmark in the middle of the desert, made of neon signs and dreams. More than just lavish and gaudy casinos, Vegas is the epicentre of entertainment – whatever you want to do or see, you know you can find it on the Strip or further out into the city. There is a reason that this is the ultimate bucket list city for travellers and adventurers, and that is because Sin City is the place to go when you want to be someone else for a while. Aside from the casinos, which of course is what people think of first when they think of Las Vegas, there is so much more to see and to experience, including Las Vegas boxing.

Any Canadians might have been practicing their card skills at online casino Ontario before they left for their Vegas trip. However, if you only play the tables or the slots, you will miss out on so many other experiences that you could have if you only looked a bit further into the city. Las Vegas Boxing is steeped in history. Relive some iconic fights with us.

Reliving Iconic Las Vegas Boxing Fights

Heritage of Entertainment

Boxing had already been prominent in the USA, with fights regularly taking place in Chicago and New York, but it wasn’t until the 1950s and the Elvis revolution that the focus moved to Las Vegas. This coincided with the opening of many of the grand hotel casino complexes, which could also offer flexible space for exhibitions and performances. 

Sonny Liston was one of the first big names to come to Vegas to fight in the ‘60s – but it was really Muhammed Ali that brought the fame. Some would consider him the boxing Elvis because of this.

The growth of boxing in Vegas has only increased with the addition of PPV options, allowing people around the world to tune in and increasing the popularity of the city as a venue. Thousands of fans flock to the city to watch the fights, spending millions, if not billions, in bets, tickets, and other things while they are there. 

This shows no signs of stopping, and Vegas is not only the ultimate destination for the biggest boxing cards, but the reason that other events, like UFC, take place there now, too.

Las Vegas Boxing: Reliving Iconic Bouts

George Foreman v Ron Lyle – January 1976

While some of the biggest names in boxing have fought in Vegas, it was the 5-round slugfest between the indomitable George Foreman and the plucky Ron Lyle that made the first entry on our iconic Las Vegas boxing list.

George Foreman was coming back to the boxing world after taking a lengthy break, having lost to Muhammed Ali in 1974, while Ron Lyle was confident after a recent win.

Foreman won, of course. 

Steve Cruz v Barry McGuigan – June 1986

10 years later, and we are looking at a featherweight battle for the ages. Barry McGuigan, the WBA featherweight champion, was one of the most popular men in boxing at the time. Steve Cruz, on the other hand, was a relative unknown.

Fans knew that McGuigan was going to win this fight, so when the fighters went 15 rounds in the scalding Vegas heat (the bouts took place outside), the atmosphere was electric. 

Cruz winning in such a gutsy way was such a surprise that this was billed Fight of the Year, and will be remembered as a memorable Las Vegas boxing showdown.

Riddick Bowe v Evander Holyfield – November 1993

You cannot have a list of famous Las Vegas boxing matches without including Evander Holyfield. While he might be more well-known for that ear incident, he still is considered by many to be the greatest cruiserweight fighter of all time.

This particular match was the first of a trilogy of heavyweight battles between the two, and it was a really tactical display of action throughout. It was closely contested, but in this one, Bowe had the majority of the rounds, emerging as the winner and as something pretty special in his own right. 

Diego Corrales v Jose Luis Castillo – May 2005

Whoever said that only heavyweight fights are worthy of centre stage in Las Vegas boxing obviously never watched these two go at it. 

Fans of the sport knew as soon as this was announced that it would be a battle for the ages between two all-action ring warriors – and they were not disappointed. 

From the get-go, both swung into action with huge power shots, but by round 10, Corrales started to look undone, both eyes swollen, and visibly swaying. Castillo took full advantage, rocking him again and again – before the end of the match saw a defenceless Corrales hung up on the ropes, absorbing hit after hit, and the referee had to call it off with 50 seconds of the round left.

These are just a handful of the old-school matches – and with new cards announced monthly for Las Vegas boxing, there will always be an opportunity for you to catch one if you are ever in Sin City, too.