Capital One Arena

Capital One Arena, nestled in the heart of Washington D.C.'s Chinatown, has been a cornerstone of the city's sports and entertainment scene since its opening in 1997. Originally known as the MCI Center and later as the Verizon Center, this multi-purpose arena has witnessed numerous historic moments in boxing and other sports.

While primarily home to the NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals, the arena has also hosted several significant boxing events. One of the most notable was Mike Tyson's final professional fight against Kevin McBride in 2005, marking the end of an era in heavyweight boxing. In January 2023, the arena recently set a new record when it hosted the WBA World Lightweight Championship bout between Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Hector Luis Garcia. This event became the highest-grossing in the venue's 25-year history, surpassing even a Rolling Stones concert, with a reported $5.185 million ticket revenue and 19,731 paid attendees.

The arena's boxing legacy is part of a rich pugilistic tradition in Washington, D.C. The city has produced numerous world-class boxers, including the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard, widely regarded as the greatest boxer out of the nation's capital. Other notable D.C. fighters include Bob Foster, Mark Johnson, and Simon Brown, who dominated various weight classes during the 1990s, earning the decade the moniker "The Decade of D.C. Champions". This boxing heritage extends back to venues like Turner's Arena, which hosted top professional matches featuring fighters such as Holly Mims, Jimmy Cooper, and B.B. Washington in the 1950s.

Capital One Arena remains vital to Washington, D.C.'s sporting landscape today. With a capacity of 20,656 and averaging 220 events annually, it has welcomed over 47 million people since its opening. The arena's impact extends beyond sports, catalysing the surrounding area's $9.2 billion redevelopment, transforming the Seventh Street corridor into a thriving entertainment destination. As it looks to the future, Capital One Arena remains poised to host more memorable boxing events, continuing Washington D.C.'s storied boxing tradition in a modern, world-class venue.