San Francisco Aims for Boxing's Biggest Crowd Ever

San Francisco is preparing to host what could become the most attended boxing event in history, turning its historic Civic Center Plaza into a massive open-air arena this July.

iVisit Boxing announced plans to challenge a record that has stood since 1941, when 135,132 fans watched Tony Zale and Billy Pryor fight in Milwaukee's Juneau Park. The free event scheduled for July 11 will be streamed on YouTube, making it accessible to fans worldwide.

"This world-record attempt will belong to San Francisco," said iVB chief executive Ed Pereira. "It belongs to its fans, its fighters and its communities."

The Civic Center Plaza venue, built in 1911, sits at the heart of San Francisco and represents the organization's commitment to bringing professional boxing out of expensive arenas and into public spaces. By removing ticket barriers and streaming the entire card online, iVB is reimagining how fans experience the sport.

The organization has partnered with YouTube for a multi-fight broadcast deal and plans to stage 24 boxing events across the next 12 months. Their first show launches in March, with the full schedule set to be announced at a Las Vegas news conference in February.

The Ripple Effect

The move to public spaces and free streaming could transform boxing's accessibility across communities that have been priced out of major events. San Francisco's diverse neighborhoods will be able to witness world-class boxing without financial barriers, potentially inspiring a new generation of fighters and fans.

By prioritizing community access over ticket revenue, iVB is betting that boxing's future lies in reaching more people, not charging them more money. If successful, the record-breaking crowd could prove that the sport thrives when everyone gets a seat at the table.

Come July, San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza might not just break a record but help redefine how boxing connects with its fans.