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Kentucky Tries To Land World-Class Professional Boxing And Wrestling

Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History
Kentucky born Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves are displayed in Washington D.C.

Kentucky is making a new push to land professional boxing and wrestling events. Chairman of the reorganized Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling CommissionChad Miller says he'd like to land a big event as early as this fall.

"I am an eternal optimist so I try to go big anytime I do anything."

Miller points to the great fighters to come out of Kentucky including Muhammad Ali. He says Northern Kentucky's BB & T Arena, Louisville's KFC Yum! Center and Lexington's Rupp Arena can all easily handle a large professional boxing, wrestling, or a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event.

He says, "We welcome any promoters that are out there or boxers or aspiring boxers or fighters in general. We just want to make sure everybody knows we want to get something going and really drive revenue and this becomes a focal point for Kentucky."

Additionally, Miller is looking into new legislation that would drive revenue through these sports and increase the safety for athletes.
 

 

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.