By Johnny B’

Each year I look back at the previous year to see the health of professional boxing shows in the USA. Usually, I look at this in the spring. This year I am a little late, but there are fewer shows to report on. California, which almost always leads the US with the most shows, again was the top producer with 92 shows.

Texas ranked second a distance back with 57 shows and Pennsylvania was third with 41 shows. Then there is a bit of a drop-off. 29 shows for Florida, 28 for West Virginia, 27 for New York*, just 23 for Nevada, 22 for North Carolina, 20 for Oklahoma, and 19 to tenth place State of Colorado.

Twelve other States came in with double digits. Meanwhile, 22 States could not even muster up ten professional boxing shows for the 2016 calendar. Pathetic to see States like Massachusetts and Illinois with totals of eight and six shows for an entire calendar year.

Seven States including the Dakotas and the State of Vermont did not even have one professional boxing card for the 2016 calendar year.

Hopefully, things will improve. With all the fighting going on in the Midwest you would think some of those so called tough-guys would get in the ring in some of the big cities and show their toughness. Maybe they are not as tough as they use to be. Time will tell.

*Shows in New York went down from 49 show in 2015 to just 27 shows in 2016 after the New York State Athletic Commission implemented new insurance requirements which virtually shut down smaller promoters.

2016 USA Totals State by State

1. California (92)
2. Texas (57)
3. Pennsylvania (41)
4. Florida (29)
5. West Virginia (28)
6. New York (27)
7. Nevada (23)
8. North Carolina (22)
9. Oklahoma (20)
10. Colorado (19)

11. Indiana (16)
11. Virginia (16)
13. Kentucky (14)
13. Ohio (14)
15. Arizona (13)
15. Michigan (13)
15. Missouri (13)
18. Louisiana (11)
19. Minnesota (10)
20. Mississippi (10)
20. New Jersey (10)
20. New Mexico (10)

23. Utah (9)
23. Wisconsin (9)
25. Connecticut (8)
25. Massachusetts (8)
25. Tennessee (8)
25. Washington DC (8)
29. Washington (7)
30. Arkansas (6)
30. Georgia (6)
30. Illinois (6)
30. Rhode Island (6)
34. Iowa (5)
34. Maine (5)
36. Montana (4)
36. Nebraska (4)
38. Maryland (3)
38. Oregon (3)
38. South Carolina (3)
41. Alabama (2)
41. Kansas (2)
41. New Hampshire (2)
44. Idaho (1)

45. Alaska (0)
45. Hawaii (0)
45. Deleware (0)
45. North Dakota (0)
45. South Dakota (0)
45. Vermont (0)
45. Wyoming (0)