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BOSTON (AP) — For the first time in nearly 70 years, boxing is returning to Boston’s famed Fenway Park.
The 11-fight card is the culmination of years of effort by twin brothers and longtime public schoolteachers who grew up in Watertown and want to revitalize boxing in the city that was home to some of the greatest athletes in the sport’s history.
It’s also symbolic of a shift back to the roots of the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, to when it wasn’t just used for Red Sox games but for other sports and political events.
“Most people’s experience there is solely related to baseball,” said Richard Johnson, Fenway expert and curator at The Sports Museum in Boston. “But the fact is that this year, you can see an event that’ll be very similar to what your grandparents saw.”
Promoters Mark and Matt Nolan want “Fight Night at Fenway,” scheduled for Saturday, to be both a time capsule and time machine, taking spectators back to boxing’s glory days and what the sport can be for the city in the future.
The Nolans got their license to organize fights last year with the goal of bringing boxing back to Boston. After Fenway, “That’s mission accomplished,” Matt Nolan said.
“It’s not just like our dream, it’s everybody’s dream — every boxer on planet Earth,” he said. “Just the idea that some kid can fight his way to Fenway Park. It’s like hitting the lottery. You can’t you can’t beat it. There’s nothing comparable.”
A rich history
Boston has played a long and impressive role in American boxing history and the development of the sport itself, said Johnson, author of “Field of Our Fathers, An Illustrated History of Fenway Park.”
The city was home to “Boston’s Strong Boy,” John L. Sullivan, born in 1858 to Irish immigrant parents and widely considered America’s first sports superstar. The first heavyweight champion of the world, he was as famous as Muhammad Ali was in his time.
Sam Langford, a Black Canadian-born boxer, moved to Boston as a teenager but was blocked from competing in the world championships by racist policies and is considered one of the greatest non-champions in boxing.
Other boxing stars with Boston connections include Marvin Hagler and Rocky Marciano of nearby Brockton. ”The Boston Bomber” Tony DeMarco, whose statue raises his fists at passersby in Boston’s North End, was the last fighter to win in the ring at Fenway in 1956.
For a time after it was built, Fenway Park was the only outdoor venue with a significant seating capacity in Boston, making it a destination for all kinds of events, including boxing starting in 1920.
After new owners took over in 2002, the park became a venue for concerts and sporting events like hockey, snowboarding, Irish football and curling.
“Back in the day, it was sort of the Swiss Army knife of sports facilities in Boston. And it’s returned to that — a little bit of everything. So, returning boxing to the park is just a nod to the past,” Johnson said.
Other venues can feel “more corporate and sterile,” but Fenway is living history, said Johnson, who calls it the “largest open-air museum in New England.”
A different pitch
Mark Nolan said it’s not for lack of trying that no one has hosted a boxing fight at Fenway in almost 70 years. But many promoters couldn’t make a pitch that landed with ballpark management.
The Nolans, who teach full time and own a boxing gym in Waltham where people can train regardless of their ability to pay, were different. After success hosting events at other venues, Mark Nolan said Fenway Sports Group connected to their “everyman” appeal and decided to give them a shot.
The brothers fell in love with boxing while accompanying their father, a boat captain, to the gym as kids.
When they expanded from coaching amateur boxers to professionals five years ago, they were dismayed by what they found: shows full of uneven fights set up to make the promoters as much money as possible, with established amateurs fighting people who “have no right putting gloves on in any capacity whatsoever” in venues like high school gymnasiums. Fighters weren’t being paid fairly and contracts weren’t transparent.
They came up with a simple business plan: pick good venues, pay fighters well and only host matches in Boston proper. They said a lot of promoters sell fighters, but they’re focused on selling fights fans want to see.
“They’re making sure that every fight is well-matched,” said Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole, a fighter from rural Galway, Ireland, who has lived in Boston for the past two years, “Nobody wants to see someone go in and just knock their opponent out right away and beat them up for four, six, eight rounds. They want to see a competitive fight.”
O’Toole went professional in 2021 and is undefeated with 13 fights. He said his fight against St. Louis-born Vaughn “Da Animal” Alexander at Fenway will be “the biggest test of his career.”
Massachusetts-born Lexi “Lil Savage” Bolduc will compete in her fourth professional fight. She faces Sarah Couillard in a rematch after coming out on the losing end of a majority draw at the Royale.
“Fighting at Fenway, I think adds a little bit of pressure because I’m local, I grew up in Mass and idolized a lot of players as I was growing up. ... But at the same time, I’m trying to use it just as a huge opportunity and really soak in the moment,” she said. "Pressure makes diamonds.
“To be able to kind of stand on that same ground of some of the most accomplished athletes, it’s really remarkable,” she said.
2025 schedule dates and fixtures.
The BBC is not responsible for any changes to dates and fixtures.
7 June
Ipswich, England
Fabio Wardley v Justis Huni (heavyweight)
Orlando, Florida
Beatriz Ferreira v Maria Ines Ferreyra (IBF lightweight world title)
Barnsley, England
Callum Simpson v Ivan Zucco (European super-middleweight title)
Adam Azim v Eliot Chavez (light-welterweight)
8 June
Broadbeach, Australia
Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo (IBF cruiserweight world title)
Tokyo, Japan
Junto Nakatani vs Ryosuke Nishida (IBF & WBC bantamweight world titles)
14 June
New York, USA
Richardson Hitchins v George Kambosos Jr (IBF light-welterweight)
19 June
Tokyo, Japan
Brian Norman Jr v Jin Sasaki (WBO welterweight world title)
21 June
Birmingham, England
Galal Yafai v Francisco Rodriguez Jr (flyweight)
Shabaz Masoud v Ionut Baluta (super-bantamweight)
27 June
Kansas, USA
Deontay Wilder v Tyrrell Herndon (heavyweight)
28 June
Anaheim, USA
Jake Paul v Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (cruiserweight)
Gilberto Ramirez v Yuniel Dorticos (WBA (Super) & WBO cruiserweight world titles)
5 July
Manchester, England
Jack Catterall v Harlem Eubank (welterweight)
11 July
New York, USA
Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano 3 (undisputed light-welterweight world championship)
Ellie Scotney v Yamileth Mercado (IBF, WBC & WBO super-bantamweight world titles)
Alycia Baumgardner v Jennifer Miranda (IBF, WBC & WBO super-featherweight world titles)
Cherneka Johnson v Shurretta Metcalf (IBF, WBA, WBC & WBO bantamweight world titles)
12 July
New York, USA
Shakur Stevenson v William Zepeda (WBC lightweight world title)
Edgar Berlanga v Hamzah Sheeraz (super-middleweight)
Alberto Puello v Subriel Matias (WBC light-welterweight world title)
19 July
Wembley, England
Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois 2 (undisputed heavyweight world championship)
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2025 results
8 January
Queensland, Australia
Jai Opetaia stops David Nyika in devastating fashion (IBF cruiserweight world title)
11 January
Sheffield, England
Caroline Dubois retains world title Jessica Camara despite draw (WBC lightweight world title)
Callum Simpson stops Steed Woodall in round two (British & Commonwealth super-middleweight world titles)
17 January
California, USA
Mizuki Hiruta retains her world title with a technical decision win over Maribel Ramirez (WBO super-flyweight world title)
24 January
Tokyo, Japan
Naoya Inoue stops Ye Joon Kim in four rounds (undisputed super-bantamweight world championship)
25 January
Nottingham, England
Ellie Scotney outpoints Mea Motu despite suffering cut (IBF & WBO super-bantamweight world titles)
Dalton Smith stops Walid Ouizza in one round (European light-welterweight world title)
1 February
Wembley, England
Adam Azim stops Sergey Lipinets in round nine (IBO light-welterweight title)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Colm Murphy beats Kasimu Hamad Haji in third round (featherweight)
2 February
Flint, Michigan
Claressa Shields drops Danielle Perkins on way to points win (WBO light-heavyweight world title and WBA & WBC heavyweight world titles)
8 February
Manchester, England
Derek Chisora beats Otto Wallin in UK finale (heavyweight)
East Kilbride, Scotland
Matty McHale beaten by Brandon Daord (British super-flyweight title)
Aaron Bird retains title with a win over Bobby Morrell (light-heavyweight)
14 February
New York, USA
Denys Berinchyk beaten by Keyshawn Davis (WBO lightweight world title)
15 February
Manchester, England
Jack Catterall loses to Arnold Barboza on points (light-welterweight)
22 February
Artur Beterbiev beaten by Dmitry Bivol in rematch (undisputed light-heavyweight world championship)
Joseph Parker stops Martin Bakole in two rounds (heavyweight)
Carlos Adames outclasses Hamzah Sheeraz (WBC middleweight world title)
Shakur Stevenson stops Josh Padley (WBC lightweight world title)
24 February
Tokyo, Japan
Junto Nakatani stops David Cuellar in three rounds (WBC bantamweight world title)
Seiya Tsutsumi retains title after unanimous draw with Daigo Higa (WBA bantamweight world title)
1 March
Bournemouth, England
Ryan Garner outpoints Salvador Jimenez (European super-featherweight title)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Lewis Crocker wins after Paddy Donovan disqualified for late punch (welterweight)
Brooklyn, New York
Gervonta Davis retains title on majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr (WBA lightweight title)
Alberto Puello retains title with split decision win over Sandor Martin (WBC super-lightweight title)
Gary Antuanne Russell comfortably wins title by unanimous decision against Jose Valenzuela (WBA light-welterweight world title)
7 March
London, England
Lauren Price outclasses Natasha Jonas in brilliant display (WBC, WBA & IBF welterweight world titles)
Caroline Dubois outpoints Bo Mi Re Shin to stay undefeated (WBC lightweight world title)
Karriss Artingstall drops Raven Chapman on way to points win (featherweight)
Brighton, England
Harlem Eubank stops Tyrone McKenna in ten rounds (welterweight)
Michael Conlan returns from 15-month lay-off to beat Asad Asif Khan (featherweight)
13 March
Tokyo, Japan
Kenshiro Teraji stops Seigo Yuri Akui in final round (WBC & WBA flyweight world titles)
Anthony Olascuaga outpoints Hiroto Kyoguchi (WBO flyweight world title)
Rene Santiago beats Shokichi Iwata (WBO light-flyweight world title)
15 March
Liverpool, England
Nick Ball beats TJ Doheny by corner stoppage before 11th round (WBA featherweight world title)
Andrew Cain defeats Charlie Edwards by split decision (bantamweight)
22 March
Sydney, Australia
Skye Nicolson suffers shock loss to Tiara Brown (WBC featherweight world title)
Cherneka Johnson stops Nina Hughes in rematch (WBA bantamweight world title)
22 March
Las Vegas, USA
Sebastian Fundora stops Chordale Booker in four rounds (WBO & WBC light-middleweight world titles)
28 March
Manchester, England
Pat Brown stops Federico Javier Grandone in four rounds on pro debut (heavyweight)
Cameron Vuong breaks down Jordan Flynn in seven rounds (lightweight)
29 March
Las Vegas, USA
Mikaela Mayer outpoints Sandy Ryan in rematch (WBO welterweight world title)
Brian Norman Jr beats Derrieck Cuevas in three rounds (WBO welterweight world title)
Tokoname, Japan
Masamichi Yabuki stops Angel Ayala in final round (IBF flyweight title)
30 March
Tokoname, Japan
Melvin Jerusalem retains title with a unanimous decision victory over former titleholder Yudai Shigeoka (WBC strawweight world title)
5 April
Astana, Kazakhstan
Janibek Alimkhanuly stops Anauel Ngamissengue in five rounds in homecoming bout (WBO & IBF middleweight world titles)
Manchester, England
Filip Hrgovic outpoints Joe Joyce as British heavyweight's career hangs in the balance (heavyweight)
Potsdam, Germany
Tina Rupprecht beats Sumire Yamanaka on points (undisputed atomweight world championship)
10 April
Montreal, Canada
Mary Spencer beats Ogleidis Suarez by unanimous decision to retain title (WBA light-middleweight world title)
12 April
New Jersey, USA
Jaron Ennis beats Eimantas Stanionis by technical knockout to unify belts (IBF & WBA welterweight world titles)
19 April
Sheffield, England
Dalton Smith knocks Mathieu Germain down three times on way to points win (light-welterweight)
Caoimhin Agyarko steps in on short notice to beat Ryan Kelly (light-middleweight)
California, USA
Gabriela Fundora stops Marilyn Badillo to remain unbeaten (undisputed flyweight world championship)
20 April
Ben Whittaker secures stoppage before yelling at Liam Cameron's team (light-heavyweight)
Frazer Clarke stops Ebaneezer Tetteh in big knockout (heavyweight)
26 April
Tottenham, England
Chris Eubank Jr defeats Conor Benn on points (middleweight)
Anthony Yarde beats Lyndon Arthur on points in trilogy fight (light-heavyweight)
2 May
New York, USA
Ryan Garcia beaten by Rolando Romero on return from doping ban (welterweight)
Devin Haney outpoints Jose Ramirez in drab fight (welterweight)
Teofimo Lopez stays champion with impressive win over Arnold Barboza Jr (WBO light-welterweight world title)
3 May
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez beats William Scull on points in lacklustre bout (WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO super-middleweight world titles)
4 May
Las Vegas, USA
Naoya Inoue climbs off canvas to stop Ramon Cardenas (undisputed super-bantamweight world championship)
Rafael Espinoza stops Edward Vazquez in two rounds (WBO featherweight world title)
10 May
Nottingham, England
Anthony Cacace stops Leigh Wood in nine rounds (IBO super-featherweight title)
California, USA
Emanuel Navarrete retains world title after Charly Suarez fight stopped due to clash of heads (WBO super-featherweight world title)
11 May
Tokyo, Japan
Fernando Martinez defeats Kazuto Ioka by unanimous decision (WBA super-flyweight world title)
17 May
London, England
Dave Allen stops Johnny Fisher in their rematch in London (heavyweight)
23 May
Doncaster, England
Terri Harper outclasses badly cut Natalie Zimmermann (WBO lightweight world title)
Zacatecas, Mexico
Willibaldo Garcia Perez v Rene Calixto Bibiano (IBF super-flyweight world title)
24 May
Glasgow, Scotland
Ekow Essuman upsets Josh Taylor on Scottish soil with points win (welterweight)
Osaka, Japan
Angelo Leo beats by majority decision Tomoki Kameda (IBF featherweight world title)
28 May
Yokohama, Japan
Yoshiki Takei stops Yuttapong Tongdee in one round (WBO bantamweight world title)
Eduardo Nunez outpoints Masanori Rikiishi to claim vacant title (IBF super-featherweight world title)
6 June
Newcastle, England
Josh Kelly stops Flavius Biea in one round (light-middleweight)
2024 boxing results
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