Atlantic City casinos miss hosting big fights

John Curran

Friday, Feb. 23, 2001 | noon

ATLANTIC CITY -- The ring is octagonal. The fighters go barefoot. And once the bell rings, almost everything is legal -- choke holds, kicking, kneeing, arm locks, punching, "throws" and wrestling-style takedowns.

The mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship, which comes to the Trump Taj Mahal tonight, is a far cry from big-time boxing.

But it will have to do.

Boxing, a staple of casino entertainment, is suffering through the doldrums here:

"The big fights -- the Holyfield-Mercers, the Lennox Lewises, the Bowe-Golotas -- they've just disappeared," said fight scene observer Tom Qualiano, a local sports talk host.

"People say, 'When are we going to get some more big fights?' You have to explain to them that there's this trickle-down effect," said state boxing commissioner Larry Hazzard.

Casinos miss the action, too.

Big-time boxing matches bring high-rolling gamblers, out-of-town news media and fight fans who usually play some blackjack or roll the dice while they're in town.

Rick Santoro, vice president of security and community affairs for Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, acknowledged Thursday that prizefights are preferable.

"Of course. But the fights just aren't out there," he said.

Santoro, who booked the event for the Taj Mahal, said Ultimate Fighting Championship events -- one was held here last November -- bring their own fans.

Some are boxing fans; some martial arts buffs.

Lorenzo J. Fertitta, president of Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas, owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship tour. He says the fights appeal to jaded fans.

He says boxing fans are tired of boxing.

"Fans are frustrated. These guys get millions, and they don't fight. In the UFC, these guys fight because they want to fight. They fight for pride," he said.

And tickets -- priced at $25 to $200 -- are selling. The first UFC event, last Nov. 17 at the Taj Mahal, sold out the 5,000-seat Mark G. Etess Arena.

Tonight's eight-bout card is sold out, too.

Bob McClintock, senior general manager of the Atlantic City Convention Center, said Atlantic City's boxing scene will pick up once Convention Hall reopens in late September.

"Boxing is our major league sport here," he said. "We still see it as a big part of our overall event mix."