With this week marking the 137th anniversary of the last major bare knuckle heavyweight championship fight, it is the perfect time to look back at Mississippi’s rich boxing history.
From the legendary John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain showdown in a secluded field near Richburg to world championship bouts featuring Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather Jr., Larry Holmes, and Laila Ali on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Magnolia State has hosted some of boxing’s most memorable contests. While Mississippi may not be the first state that comes to mind when discussing the sport’s greatest venues, its rings have welcomed heavyweight champions, future Hall of Famers, and unforgettable championship moments for well over a century.
In honor of this week’s anniversary, here are the 10 greatest boxing matches ever held in Mississippi.
1. John L. Sullivan vs. Jake Kilrain
July 8, 1889 | Richburg, Mississippi (southwest of Hattiesburg)
No fight in Mississippi history carries more significance than the heavyweight championship showdown between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain. Staged in a secluded field near Richburg after prizefighting had been outlawed in many states, organizers kept the location secret until the last possible moment as thousands of spectators arrived by special trains to witness history. Fighting under the London Prize Ring Rules, the two heavyweights endured 75 punishing rounds in the sweltering Mississippi heat before Kilrain’s corner finally threw in the towel, giving Sullivan the victory. The bout is widely recognized as the last major bare knuckle heavyweight championship fight and marked the end of an era as boxing soon transitioned to the gloved Marquess of Queensberry rules. More than 137 years later, the quiet field where the fight took place remains the most historically significant boxing site in Mississippi.
2. John L. Sullivan vs. Paddy Ryan
February 7, 1882 | Mississippi City, Mississippi (near Gulfport)
Seven years before Richburg hosted the end of the bare knuckle era, Mississippi City became the stage for one of boxing’s earliest super fights. Defending American champion Paddy Ryan met the hard hitting John L. Sullivan on the grounds of the Barnes Hotel before thousands of spectators who had traveled to the Gulf Coast by rail and steamboat. Sullivan overwhelmed the veteran champion, forcing Ryan’s corner to concede after just nine rounds and announcing himself as boxing’s newest superstar. The victory launched Sullivan toward international fame and helped pave the way for the legendary championship fight that would later take place in Richburg. Today, the bout remains one of the most important sporting events ever held on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
3. Roy Jones Jr. vs. Virgil Hill
April 25, 1998 | Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
When Roy Jones Jr. stepped into the ring against former world champion Virgil Hill, fans expected a competitive title fight. Instead, they witnessed one of the most famous knockouts in boxing history. Jones ended the fight in the fourth round with a perfectly placed left hook to Hill’s body, a punch so devastating that Hill remained on one knee unable to beat the count. The knockout became an instant highlight replay around the world and further cemented Jones’ reputation as the best pound for pound fighter of his generation. It also stands as perhaps the greatest championship performance ever staged in Mississippi.
4. Laila Ali vs. Christy Martin
Laila Ali vs Christy Martin | Full Fight | IBA Super-Middleweight Title | 23/8/2003 – YouTube
August 23, 2003 | Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
Women’s boxing reached one of its biggest moments when Laila Ali defended her world title against pioneer Christy Martin in Biloxi. Ali entered the fight carrying one of the sport’s most recognizable names, while Martin had helped establish women’s boxing as a legitimate attraction years before. Muhammad Ali watched proudly from ringside as his daughter dominated the bout before stopping Martin in the fourth round. The nationally televised event brought enormous attention to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and remains one of the most significant women’s sporting events ever hosted in the state.
5. Roy Jones Jr. vs. Reggie Johnson
Roy Jones Jr vs Reggie Johnson
June 5, 1999 | Grand Casino Theatre, Biloxi
Roy Jones Jr. returned to Biloxi just over a year after his memorable victory over Virgil Hill with even more history on the line. Facing fellow champion Reggie Johnson, Jones sought to unify the light heavyweight division and strengthen his claim as boxing’s top fighter. Jones completely controlled the action over twelve rounds, using his unmatched speed and athleticism to win a lopsided unanimous decision and become the undisputed light heavyweight champion. The victory added another historic chapter to Mississippi’s growing reputation as a destination for world championship boxing during the casino boom of the late 1990s.
6. Andre Berto vs. Luis Collazo
FIGHT OF TITANS: André Berto vs Luis Collazo 17.01.2009
January 17, 2009 | Beau Rivage, Biloxi
One of the most entertaining championship fights ever held in Mississippi took place inside Beau Rivage when undefeated WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto met veteran challenger Luis Collazo. Collazo repeatedly pressured the young champion and forced Berto to answer difficult questions throughout the twelve round contest. Berto ultimately retained his title by unanimous decision, but many boxing fans still remember the fight for its nonstop action and competitiveness. It helped establish Biloxi as one of the premier casino boxing destinations in the South during the 2000s.
7. Jermain Taylor vs. Sam Soliman
Sam Soliman vs Jermain Taylor IBF 08 10 2014 – YouTube
October 8, 2014 | Beau Rivage, Biloxi
Few comeback stories in boxing have been as emotional as Jermain Taylor’s return to the top of the sport. After years of setbacks, the former undisputed middleweight champion traveled to Biloxi for a chance to reclaim world championship glory against Australia’s Sam Soliman. Taylor scored multiple knockdowns and earned a unanimous decision to once again become a world champion. The victory marked one of the final great moments of Taylor’s career and gave Mississippi another memorable title fight on the Gulf Coast.
8. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Jesus Roberto Chavez
Floyd Mayweather vs. Jesus Chavez [1997-07-12] | Full Fight – YouTube
July 12, 1997 | Grand Casino, Biloxi
Long before becoming the highest earning boxer in history, Floyd Mayweather Jr. made several appearances on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as an up and coming champion. His bout against Jesus Roberto Chavez showcased the blazing hand speed and defensive brilliance that would eventually make him one of boxing’s all time greats. Mayweather stopped Chavez in the fifth round and continued building the undefeated record that would define his legendary career. Looking back, Mississippi boxing fans had the rare opportunity to see greatness before the rest of the world fully realized it.
9. Larry Holmes vs. Mike Weaver II
HOLMES v WEAVER (REMATCH) NOV 17th 2000
November 17, 2000 | Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi
Although both heavyweights were well beyond their championship years, seeing Larry Holmes and Mike Weaver share the ring again was a special moment for boxing fans. Their rematch brought together two former world champions whose original meeting had been one of the heavyweight division’s memorable battles. Holmes controlled the action before stopping Weaver in the sixth round. The fight demonstrated the caliber of legendary fighters that Mississippi casinos were able to attract during boxing’s resurgence along the Gulf Coast.
10. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Hector Arroyo
Floyd Mayweather vs. Hector Arroyo [1998-01-09] | Full Fight
January 9, 1998 | Grand Casino, Biloxi
Floyd Mayweather returned to Biloxi just six months after defeating Jesus Roberto Chavez, further strengthening the city’s reputation as a stop for elite championship boxing. Facing veteran Hector Arroyo, Mayweather once again displayed the speed, accuracy, and defensive skill that would later carry him to an undefeated professional career. He earned a fifth round technical knockout in another dominant performance before moving on to even bigger stages. In hindsight, these early Biloxi fights became an important part of the story of one of boxing’s greatest champions.
Honorable Mention: Mike Tyson Brings His Training Camp to Tunica
June 2002 Sam’s Town Resort & Casino, Tunica
Although Mike Tyson’s long awaited showdown with Lennox Lewis took place across the state line at The Pyramid in Memphis, Mississippi became part of the spectacle during fight week. Tyson conducted his final training sessions at Fitzgeralds Casino in Tunica, which promoted itself as the official home of Team Tyson and reportedly paid $1 million for the designation, tickets, and access connected to the camp. During one public workout, spectators packed into a hot casino ballroom and stood on chairs as Tyson worked the speed bag and practiced his head movement while members of his unpredictable entourage traded threats and insults with the media. Lewis also established his final camp in Tunica at Sam’s Town, making the Mississippi casino strip an unofficial headquarters for one of the biggest heavyweight fights of the era. Lewis ultimately knocked Tyson out in the eighth round on June 8, 2002, but for several days leading up to the fight, Tunica stood at the center of the boxing world.
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