Tweet
Larry Lucchino, one of the owners of the Boston Red Sox, likes to refer to the hated Yankees as "the Evil Empire."
The Boston and New York American League franchises like to compete on all levels so it's no surprise to find out that ballpark boxing, just successfully staged by the Yankees with the Miguel Cotto-Yuri Foreman show, is on the mind of the creative types at historic Fenway Park.
A representative for Arum's Top Rank outfit has had a preliminary exchange of correspondence with someone in the Bosox organization about a possible "Fistic Fenway" promotion. No dates or specific boxers were mentioned.
"The Red Sox are receptive to the idea," a source told me. "Arum is also looking to Los Angeles and to Dodgers Stadium, maybe with JC Chavez Jr. or Antonio Margarito. But the boxing at ballparks and stadium concept is something we want to expand on."
It is also no secret that Arum is keen on putting an event into the new Giants/Jets stadium across the Hudson River from Manhattan. A 2011 date will be eyed for that big show in North Jersey.
The Red Sox have been active in other fields with rock concerts and in running an auto racing team venture. Like all the big league clubs, Boston is trying to bring in added revenue and have the ballpark occupied on off baseball date.
The outdoor NHL game at Fenway Park in January between the hometown Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers was a smash success, artistically and financially.
Boston rockers Aerosmith and J. Geils Band perform on ther hallowed baseball grounds on Aug. 14.
This just showed up in my mailbox from the Bosox as to a major soccer attraction at Fenway:
"The excellence, passion and tradition of top flight European soccer (football) comes to Fenway Park on July 21st at 8:00 p.m. as powerhouses Celtic Football Club of the Scottish Premier League and Sporting Clube de Portugal from the Portuguese Liga descend upon the Fens to compete in the first ever Fenway Football Challenge.
"Compiling an astonishing 60 league championships and 49 national cup victories between the two sides in over 120 years of competition, this matchup marks the return of international football at Fenway after a 42 year hiatus. On July 9, 1968 Brazil's legendary Pelé played on the Fenway Park field and Celtic versus Sporting promises to be a memorable addition to the Park's legacy.
"As the world celebrates football with the 2010 World Cup, the Fenway Football Challenge will provide New Englanders the opportunity to witness two international clubs – each with a rich heritage and local passionate fan base."
How long can it before the rest of the AL and the National League start putting on some real fights and not those namby-pamby on the field baseball "fights?"