Top 10 Most Attended Boxing Matches in History — And Why They Still Matter

Boxing Crowds That Shook the World

Anthony Joshua drawing 78,000 fans at the Principality Stadium to watch him beat Joseph Parker wasn’t just a big night — it was another reminder of how boxing can still pack out stadiums like no other sport. It also got me thinking… what are the biggest boxing crowds of all time?

Here’s a look at the ten most attended fights in boxing history — with a few personal favourites along the way.

10. Hatton vs Lazcano (2008) — 55,000

Back in Manchester and back in business. Hatton’s return fight after the Mayweather loss saw 55,000 fans pack the City of Manchester Stadium. He didn’t look like prime Hitman, but the crowd roared him through a unanimous win. Sentimental pick for me — it was the first live fight I ever attended.

9. Ali vs Foreman (1974) — 60,000

The Rumble in the Jungle. It’s iconic for a reason. Foreman thought he might kill Ali. Instead, Ali invented the rope-a-dope, soaked up punishment, and knocked him out in the eighth round. A masterclass in mind games and endurance.

8. Doyle vs Peterson (1933) — 70,000

An old-school British scrap that ended in chaos. Two rounds of wild action before Doyle got disqualified for repeated low blows. You don’t see many like this anymore — thankfully.

7. Froch vs Groves II (2014) — 80,000

Wembley was rocking. The rematch had everything: controversy, needle, redemption. Groves started well but got absolutely flattened by Froch’s right hand in round eight. Still the best stadium knockout I’ve ever seen.

6. Harvey vs McAvoy (1939) — 90,000

Two legends of British boxing slugging it out over 15 rounds for the British and Commonwealth belts. Len Harvey edged it on points, but both men left a piece of themselves in the ring that night.

5. Schmeling vs Neusel (1934) — 102,000

Schmeling dished out a systematic beating until Neusel quit on his stool at the end of the eighth. A statement win in front of a massive Berlin crowd.

4. Dempsey vs Tunney II (1927) — 104,943

Known as The Long Count Fight. Tunney was down for at least 13 seconds, but the ref’s count was only at nine. He got up and dominated from there, winning the rematch despite controversy that still gets debated today.

3. Dempsey vs Tunney I (1926) — 120,757

The first fight shocked everyone. Tunney boxed beautifully and won almost every round. It was named Ring Magazine’s “Upset of the Decade” — and rightly so.

2. Chavez vs Haugen (1993) — 132,274

One of the most brutal mismatches in boxing history. Chavez steamrolled Haugen, who somehow lasted until the fifth round. The Mexico City crowd was absolutely electric.

1. Zale vs Pryor (1941) — 135,132

Still the biggest ever. Tony Zale dropped Billy Pryor multiple times before ending it in the ninth. Given modern safety regulations, we’ll likely never see a crowd this size again. Different era. Different world.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, the biggest boxing crowds of all time. With over 78,000 packing out the Principality Stadium on Saturday, it’s clear that boxing in the UK is booming right now — and Anthony Joshua is leading the charge.

That said, it’s mad to think that some of the biggest crowds in boxing history happened way before social media, fancy entrances, or giant LED screens. Just thousands of fans turning up to watch two fighters go to war. No frills, just fights.

Let’s be honest, we’ll probably never see over 135,000 fans crammed into a stadium again — health and safety would have a fit! But whether it’s 50,000 at the Etihad or 130,000 in a baseball stadium in Mexico, there’s nothing quite like the buzz of a big fight in front of a massive crowd.

What’s the biggest fight night crowd you’ve ever been part of? Let me know in the comments below.