In the Ring
AL MCCOY WEIGHS IN WHILE JOE LOUIS LOOKS ON, AT THE BOSTON GARDEN, 1940. Leslie Jones Collection, BPL Print Department.
The Boston Garden welcomed many famous boxers, including Joe Louis in 1940, pictured here looking on as opponent Al McCoy weighed in. Louis would go on to win the bout in six rounds.
The Boston Garden was originally built to host boxing matches, a favorite sport in the 1920s. Seats were arranged to fill out the floor around a central boxing ring.
Developer and owner Tex Rickard wanted spectators in every seat to see “sweat on the boxers’ brows.”
