BusinessTN

Big-time boxing is returning to Nashville in November.

The HBO-televised bout, promoted by New York-based DiBella Entertainment (DE) and to take place at Vanderbilt University's Memorial Gymnasium, could either be a catalyst for future Tennessee boxing events or the death knell for the sport in the state.

An August boxing event at Sommet Center, which ESPN2 televised nationally, drew about 4,400 spectators, according to arena caretaker Powers Management.

"For an ESPN show, that was a solid performance," says Lou DiBella, DE president. "That motivated me to take a look at Nashville."

The Sommet is not new to boxing. Known originally as the Nashville Arena, the arena hosted boxing in January and August of 1997, its first year of operation. Don King promoted the two events, which Showtime broadcasted.

DiBella, whose company is making its first foray into Music City, says he wants to try something different for the Saturday, Nov. 15, event, opting for Vanderbilt and its cosmopolitan West End surroundings.

"The fact it's at a college campus is a good thing," DiBella says.

Global Events and Prize Fight Promotions will assist with promotion, with tickets to go on sale Friday, Oct. 10.

Though it may be his company's promotion in Nashville, DiBella is no stranger to Tennessee--DiBella Entertainment was the lead promoter for the last three major boxing events in Memphis.

"Media coverage was solid, but attendance was weak," DiBella says of the most recent Bluff City event, held last June. "Pricing was reasonable, but Memphis has had enough regularity in boxing that it's not a big event [anymore]."

The featured bout in Nashville will pit former Olympic teammates and super middleweights Jermain "The Pride of Little Rock" Taylor against Jeff Lacy. Neither has a Middle Tennessee background or connection.

"This is a testing ground," DiBella says. "You need some frequency to build momentum. If it gets a strong turnout, it could encourage other promoters."

The timing of the November bout is noteworthy in that the State Legislature enacted the Tennessee Athletic Commission Act of 2008 last July. The nine-member commission is an independent state government entity administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Insurance. Ironically, it was the surge in the popularity of boxing's biggest competitor, mixed-martial arts, and concerns regarding the sanctioning of its bouts, that spurred the creation of the commission, which first met in early September.

Brock Williams, Vanderbilt University assistant vice chancellor for the Office of Student Athletics, says the event will bring "international and national exposure that is priceless."

"Vanderbilt has never had an event like this before," Williams says. "We're hoping the city will embrace it."

Even better, Williams says the Vanderbilt Athletics Department will absorb no costs.

"We'll rent the facility [to the promoters]," he says, adding that no beer will be sold. "We'll treat this as a home Vanderbilt SEC basketball game, with the same number of police, ushers, concession workers, ambulance personnel and ticket takers."

Skeptics wonder if Nashville, and Tennessee, will support boxing strongly enough.

"Consider this Nashville's last chance at a lasting impression on the sport," wrote Jake Donovan, co-managing editor of boxingscene.com and a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, in a Sept. 18 Web story.

Twenty boxing events have been held at downtown's Nashville Municipal Auditorium since 1996, the first year for computer records of auditorium events. Bob Skoney, the auditorium's veteran general manager, says most of the boxing nights drew a "good core crowd of regulars."

Skoney adds that Memorial Gym, which has hosted NBA pre-season games, is an unconventional venue, noting a more "neutral site" might have been expected.

As for predicting the Nov. 15 event crowd, Skoney says, "If I could figure this business out, I'd have been a promoter a long time ago."

For his part, DiBella says he hopes to lure 10,000 fans to the event, adding, "HBO is very excited about Nashville."

With the event booze free and tickets ranging from $25 to $275, it will be interesting to see if local boxing fans share that excitement.