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Boxing in Las Vegas

Las Vegas became boxing's capital through Caesars Palace outdoor super-fights in the 1980s and MGM Grand mega-fights in the 1990s–2010s. In 2025 it set its attendance record: 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford. The next big Vegas card on our list is a PBC show at The Cosmopolitan on Oct. 17, 2026. [1][2][3][4]

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026

Attendance record70,482, Canelo vs. Crawford, Allegiant Stadium, Sept. 13, 2025 [2]
Previous Vegas record29,214, a 1982 fight, broken by Canelo–Crawford [3]
Next cardPBC, Sat., Oct. 17, 2026, The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, 5 p.m. PT (DAZN & TNT) [4]

What's next?

How did Las Vegas become the fight capital?

Caesars Palace era (1976–1980s). Caesars hosted Foreman–Lyle in 1976, Holmes–Ali in 1980, Holmes–Cooney in 1982, and Leonard–Hagler, "The Super Fight," in April 1987 [1]. Hagler–Hearns, "The War," was in 1985 [5]. See Caesars Palace.

MGM Grand era (1990s–2010s). The MGM Grand Garden Arena opened at the end of 1993 [6]. It hosted Tyson–Holyfield II in 1997 [7] and Mayweather–Pacquiao in 2015 [6].

Stadium era (2020s). T-Mobile Arena staged Mayweather–McGregor in 2017 [8]. Then Allegiant Stadium broke the city's attendance record with Canelo–Crawford in 2025 [2][3].

Upcoming

Boxing in Las Vegas: the timeline

  1. BoxingOct. 2, 1980
    Holmes vs. Ali — "The Last Hurrah" at Caesars Palace

    Larry Holmes defended the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles against his former boss and sparring partner Muhammad Ali at Caesars Palace.[9]

    Caesars Palace · permalink
  2. BoxingJune 11, 1982
    Holmes vs. Cooney draws 29,214 to Caesars Palace

    Held in the Caesars Palace parking lot, Holmes–Cooney set the Las Vegas boxing attendance record of 29,214 — a mark that stood until 2025.[10][3]

    Caesars Palace · permalink
  3. BoxingApril 15, 1985
    Hagler vs. Hearns — "The War"

    Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns fought for the undisputed middleweight title at Caesars Palace. The Ring called it "the most electrifying eight minutes ever."[5]

    Caesars Palace · permalink
  4. BoxingApril 6, 1987
    Leonard upsets Hagler at Caesars Palace

    Sugar Ray Leonard took the WBC and The Ring middleweight titles by a controversial split decision in "The Super Fight." It was Hagler's last bout.[11]

    Caesars Palace · permalink
  5. BoxingDec. 31, 1993
    MGM Grand Garden Arena opens

    Barbra Streisand opened the arena that would become one of boxing's biggest stages.[6]

    MGM Grand Garden Arena · permalink
  6. BoxingAug. 19, 1995
    Tyson's comeback at the MGM Grand

    Mike Tyson returned to the ring after more than four years away, facing Peter McNeeley in a bout billed as "He's Back."[12]

    MGM Grand Garden Arena · permalink
  7. BoxingNov. 9, 1996
    Holyfield stuns Tyson

    Evander Holyfield took Tyson's WBA heavyweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a fight billed as "Finally."[13]

    MGM Grand Garden Arena · permalink
  8. BoxingJune 28, 1997
    The "Bite Fight"

    In the Holyfield–Tyson rematch, Tyson bit off part of Holyfield's ear and was disqualified, then lost his boxing license (later reinstated).[7]

    MGM Grand Garden Arena · permalink
  9. BoxingMay 2, 2015
    Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

    The "Fight of the Century" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena generated about $410 million in U.S. pay-per-view revenue, the highest-grossing PPV in history.[14]

    MGM Grand Garden Arena · permalink
  10. BoxingAug. 26, 2017
    Mayweather vs. McGregor at T-Mobile Arena

    The boxing-versus-MMA crossover — "The Money Fight" — was staged at T-Mobile Arena.[8]

    T-Mobile Arena · permalink
  11. BoxingSept. 13, 2025
    Canelo vs. Crawford draws 70,482

    Terence Crawford won the undisputed super middleweight title by unanimous decision. The crowd broke the Las Vegas boxing attendance record set in 1982.[3][2]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink

Frequently asked questions

What's the biggest boxing crowd in Las Vegas history?

70,482, for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. [2]

Where was Mayweather vs. Pacquiao?

MGM Grand Garden Arena, May 2, 2015. [6]

Where was Mayweather vs. McGregor?

T-Mobile Arena, Aug. 26, 2017. [8]

Where was the Tyson–Holyfield 'Bite Fight'?

It was Holyfield vs. Tyson II on June 28, 1997, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. [7]

What's the next big boxing card in Vegas?

Premier Boxing Champions on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, 5 p.m. PT on DAZN and TNT. Sebastian Fundora headlines, and Brandon Figueroa and Jermall Charlo are also on the card. [4]

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Sources

  1. Caesars Palace — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  2. Allegiant Stadium — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  3. Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  4. PBC Fight Night: Fundora vs Hadribeaj, Figueroa vs Kameda, Charlo vs Mazoudier (Oct 17, 2026) — Premier Boxing Champions. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  5. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  6. MGM Grand Garden Arena — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  7. Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  8. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  9. Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  10. Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  11. Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  12. Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  13. Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.
  14. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao — Wikipedia — Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 8, 2026.