Q:
Is there anywhere in Vegas to see a fight, not a major fight at the big casino, just a local fight club?
A:
From the first big outdoor fight at the old Cashman Field back in 1955, Las Vegas has been host to some of the world's biggest boxing matches. These glamorous, high-octane, and at times notorious events (the Tyson vs. Holyfield ear-biting incident and the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur after the 1996 Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon fight both took place here) seem to fit well with the city's mantle of Entertainment Capital of the World, and have always been a big pull for the high-rolling crowd. Legendary (although ultimately tragic) Ali opponent Sonny Liston is even buried here.
But it's not all about big names, big promoters, and big fights. Las Vegas’ association with boxing has drawn some serious coaching talent and there are upwards of a half-dozen dedicated boxing gyms around town, where new talent is continually being trained. In addition to the headlining events at the big arenas, there's also a vibrant local boxing scene.
But we confess it's not one that we follow or are up to speed on, so rather than reinvent the wheel, we went to www.lvboxing.com, a good source for everything about the Las Vegas boxing scene, to answer this question on our behalf. Here's its take on all the principal boxing venues around town (other joints occasionally host a one-off event, but these are all the regular locations), complete with lvboxing's own ranking system, plus contact details for each of the venues (check the Entertainment page on its Web site for each property's upcoming events calendar).
Professional Venues
Scale:
1: worst
3: OK
5: best
- Aladdin Hotel (800/851-1703) www.aladdincasino.com
Pricing: 3 | Seating 4 | Events 3
A few times a year, a promoter hosts a fight at the Aladdin. It’s a terrific venue, because its relatively small stadium-style seating is something akin to watching boxing in a movie theater. You even get a drink holder! Although that might seem like a tiny matter, if you go to the monthly fights that feature wooden chairs packed right next to each other, you quickly learn to appreciate comfortable seating.
- Caesars Palace (877/427-7243) www.caesars.com/Caesars/LasVegas
Pricing: 3 | Seating 1 | Events 3
Lately, Caesars has been hosting bouts in its outdoor arena. The only recommendation we have is to avoid the bleachers. First, the Las Vegas sun can get pretty intense at times, and sometimes it will be in your face right up until the main event. Second, the bleachers are made of some sort of metal specially designed to bruise your tailbone. One of those football butt-cushions is definitely recommended. That said, we always have fun at Caesars. The small size of the arena ensures that even the top row of the bleachers gives you a pretty good view of the action.
- Mandalay Bay (1-877-632-7800) www.mandalaybay.com
Pricing: 3 | Seats 4 | Events 5
Mandalay Bay hosts many of Vegas' biggest matchups. As with any large location, you can get cheap tickets for these fights, but you'd better bring binoculars -- okay seats cost at least $100. The best thing about Mandalay Bay is how well they manage their scheduling: Fights run one after the next with minimal time in between, unlike almost every other casino that makes you wait for what seems like years between bouts.
- MGM Grand (877/880-0880) www.mgmgrand.com
Pricing: 3 | Seats 2 | Events 5
It's no secret that many of the biggest fights in Vegas come to the MGM. Even though you can buy seats for $25 and $50, they're miles back, so be ready to shell out some cash for a good view. (We're somewhat personally biased here, having spent $100 on a pair of tickets last year that
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