Boxing in Florida – The Roots

By SOUTH FLORIDA magazine | May 2026

Florida’s boxing history was never just about punches thrown under bright lights. It was built in smoky gyms, beachfront arenas, Palm Beach ballrooms, and backroom conversations involving promoters, gamblers, celebrities, and larger-than-life personalities. Long before South Florida became known for luxury condos and nightlife, boxing was already woven into the culture of the state.

In the early 1900s, boxing emerged as entertainment for wealthy winter residents escaping northern winters in Palm Beach and Miami. Financed in part by influential figures connected to high society, the sport quickly evolved from a seasonal attraction into a proving ground for fighters looking to build reputations far from New York and Chicago. By the late 1920s, crowds packed venues such as the American Legion Arena in West Palm Beach, where local stars like Philip Dillon O’Connell Sr. became legends in regional boxing circles.

By the 1950s and 1960s, Miami Beach transformed into one of the most important boxing cities in America. At the center stood the legendary 5th Street Gym, where Angelo Dundee trained a young Cassius Clay before the world would know him as Muhammad Ali. The gym became a magnet for champions, trainers, journalists, celebrities, and curious tourists who wanted to witness greatness up close. Ali’s historic 1964 victory over Sonny Liston at the Miami Beach Convention Center forever cemented Florida’s place in boxing history.

The business side of boxing also found deep roots in Florida. Promoter Don King, now a longtime resident of Boca Raton, helped reshape the sport into a global spectacle. King promoted legendary events such as “The Rumble in the Jungle” and “Thrilla in Manila,” while turning heavyweight boxing into must-see international entertainment. Florida also carried whispers of organized crime influence during boxing’s earlier decades, with figures connected to the underworld, including Meyer Lansky, often linked to the nightlife and gambling culture surrounding South Florida’s fight scene.

The state became home to countless champions and personalities including Roy Jones Jr., Antonio Tarver, Keith Thurman, Christy Martin, and Winky Wright. Others, such as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, made Florida their adopted home during various stages of their careers.

Florida’s boxing legacy also extends beyond the ring through personalities connected to the sport’s cultural history. Khalilah Camacho-Ali, former wife of Muhammad Ali, now resides in Deerfield Beach and remains active in public life through book signings, keynote speaking appearances, acting projects, and charitable events. Her continued presence in South Florida serves as another living connection to one of boxing’s most legendary eras.

Today, Florida remains deeply connected to the sport. Historic gyms continue training new generations while retired fighters from cities like Philadelphia and New York relocate to South Florida for its weather, lifestyle, and thriving entertainment culture. Former NY area boxer Jimmy Dorsey and Steve Fleisher from Philly are among those who now proudly call Florida home. The Florida Boxing Hall of Fame, founded in 2009, continues preserving the stories of the fighters, trainers, referees, and promoters who helped shape one of the most colorful chapters in American boxing history.