US cities with best boxing history

In fairness to the South, there was plenty of professional boxing activity in that section of the United States during the first half of the 20th Century. Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans and Houston were fine boxing venues in their own right. But there were relatively few important bouts taking place in the South at the time.

Popular black fighters often faced token opposition in the South during the first half of the 20th Century. I think that the ban on mixed bouts was a major reason for that. Yet the popular white fighters often faced better opposition than their black counterparts did.

Charley Burley and Holman Williams fought each other three times in New Orleans. But Burley and Williams were far from being the most popular boxers at the time, especially Burley.

- Chuck Johnston