Tyson Fury at the Heart of Boxing's Historic Ambition
Boxing promoters are chasing history once again, and Tyson Fury stands right at the center of their ambitious vision. This time, the goal moves beyond championship belts or personal rivalries. The target is an 85-year-old attendance record that promoters believe can finally be shattered.
A Record Waiting to Fall
The current world record for the largest crowd at a boxing event has stood since 1941. Back then, 135,132 fans packed Juneau Park in Milwaukee to watch Tony Zale defeat Billy Pryor. Now, a new promotional group called iVisit Boxing wants to rewrite that history. Their plan is bold and simple: gather up to 150,000 spectators in one place for a single fight card.
Ed Pereira, the driving force behind iVisit Boxing, leads this charge. Pereira brings extensive experience from sports marketing across the Premier League, rugby union, and professional boxing. He recently organized a high-profile boxing card in New York's Times Square featuring stars like Ryan Garcia. That event, however, faced criticism for having no live audience. The San Francisco plan represents a complete reversal of that approach.
The San Francisco Spectacle
The historic attempt is scheduled for July 11 at San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza. Organizers plan to transform the open public space into a massive outdoor boxing arena. Thousands of tickets will be given away for free, aiming to remove barriers for fans. The entire event will stream live on YouTube, creating a global digital audience alongside the physical crowd.
"When you are asking 150,000 to 180,000 people to turn up to an event, I think by telling them it is a world record event is the key thing," Pereira told SunSport. "For them, they are going to be part of history. They are going to be record breaking themselves and then making it enjoyable."
Fury as the Main Attraction
When discussing star power, Pereira leaves no doubt about his top choice. "For me, I think the big name at the moment is Tyson Fury," he stated. "He is back and I think it is for the big events. It is something that would suit him down to the ground."
The 37-year-old Fury announced his retirement in January 2025 following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk. However, he later confirmed plans to return to boxing in 2026. This timeline aligns perfectly with iVisit Boxing's ambitious schedule.
Building a Complete Festival Experience
Pereira emphasizes that this event will be more than just boxing matches. "So the boxing is central, but also we are making this a fun festival atmosphere that goes around that," he explained. "Instead of just one act, we are talking about multiple acts, a fan village, and a full experience for people coming out."
Learning from the New York event, Pereira promises a more immersive experience for San Francisco attendees. "What we are going to create in San Francisco is an event where there are no fences up between the crowd and the ring and the boxers," he said. "My guiding light is to bring boxing back to the people, with clear line of sight for all those turning up to see the boxing."
Ryan Garcia and Hispanic Appeal
Recognizing the importance of the California market, Pereira stresses the need for strong Hispanic representation on the fight card. "Being in California, we have got to look at a strong Hispanic card. A strong Mexican card is critical," he noted.
This is where Ryan Garcia enters the picture. The 27-year-old fighter headlined the Times Square card and remains enormously popular in the United States. Garcia is scheduled to return to the ring on February 21 for a WBC welterweight world title bout.
"It is about bringing it to the guy in the pub who likes to go for a pint and making them engage with it," Pereira said about Garcia's appeal. "What Ryan Garcia does here in the US is bring in a broader fan base as well."
The Beginning of an "Iconic" Series
The San Francisco event marks the launch of iVisit Boxing's new "Iconic" series. The company plans more than twelve events across different cities throughout 2026. Each event will aim to create unique experiences while bringing boxing directly to massive public spaces.
This ambitious project represents a significant shift in how boxing events are staged and marketed. By combining free access, festival atmospheres, and record-breaking ambitions, promoters hope to re-engage casual fans and create moments that transcend the sport itself.
