By Ryan Burton
2010 was a down year for boxing in Las Vegas. The city is known as the "Fight Capital if the World" and usually plays host to multiple "mega-fights" each year.
In 2010 the only mega-fight held in Las Vegas was the Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley clash in May. The fight with the second highest attendance figure of the year in Las Vegas was the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz rematch that had a tad under 9,000 fans in attendence.
A major factor in the lack of big fights was that Manny Pacquiao fought both of his fights in Dallas. The fact that his fight versus Shane Mosley in May will be he'll at the MGM will be a boom to the struggling Vegas economy.
2010 ended with Las Vegas hosting 3 excellent fights. Juanma Lopez-Rafael Marquez, Juan Manuel Marquez-Michael Katsidis and Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana all produced fireworks to end the year. All 3 were great fights but all produced disappointing attendance figures. Each fight had between 4500-5000 fans in attendance.
Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer thinks 2011 has a chance to be a better year than 2010.
"We had great fights to end 2010 but the dates were not the best. Marquez-Katsidis took place over Thanksgiving weekend which isn't the best. Lopez-Marquez would have done better on its original September date (Mexican Independence Day weekend)."
Kizer also said the weak economy played a factor. "You had Katsidis from Austrailia. Khan is from England and Maidana is from Argentina. With the economy the way it is its tough to travel those long distances."
The 2011 Las Vegas boxing schedule is starting off stronger than last year. Nonito Donaire-Ferando Montiel, Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga, Juan Manuel Marquez-Erik Morales and the previously mentioned Pacquiao-Mosley bout are slated to take place between February and May in Sin City.
Kizer's only concern is that he hopes the Pacquiao-Mosley fight doesn't overshadow the other fights.
"I just hope fans don't say I'm going to Vegas for Cinco De Mayo weekend so I am not coming in March or April. Cotto and Mayorga know how to sell a fight. Marquez and Morales should bring out the fans as well."
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