Alcatraz, one of the America’s most notorious prisons, could be set to open its doors again to host a boxing match later this year.
The iconic island off the coast of San Fransico closed down in 1963 after housing some of the country’s most famous inmates including Al Capone.
It could now be set to host a huge night of boxing later this summer with super-lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez confirming talks are well underway for him to put his world title on the line inside the old prison walls.
Asked if he will be the man headlining at Alcatraz, Lopez told reporters over the weekend: ‘Absolutely. Definitely in talks about Alcatraz, it’s an honour, I’m grateful to be in his position and we ready to take over.’
IBF champion Richardson Hitchins is one name firmly in the frame to fight Lopez who confirmed those plans.
‘I believe so. But anything is possible,’ he told Boxing News.
The Ring Magazine initially reported earlier this month the proposal was under serious discussion. Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently revealed he was looking at a number of historic destinations for the sport, including The Eiffel Tower and The Colosseum in Rome.
‘What do you think if there is [an] event, fight in Alcatraz jail one day?’ he said.
‘It is like a museum now. You know, sometimes I get in my mind I want different places to do [fights].
‘Sometimes in mountains, maybe someday in the Pyramids in Mexico, someday in [the] Eiffel Tower in France, [The] Coliseum in Italy.
‘’You understand this concept?’
Any deal ‘The Rock’ to host a boxing event would require approval from the National Park Service, which manages Alcatraz as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Alcatraz was America’s most feared maximum security prison during its time in operation from 1934 and 1963. It now operates as a tourist attraction, attracting over one million visitors every year.
The prison was considered escape-proof thanks to the cold water temperatures and strong currents around the island located over a mile off the shore but a number of breakouts were attempted over the years.
Lopez became WBO super-lightweight champion in the summer of 2023, beating Scotland’s Josh Taylor to take the title.
He has successfully defended the belt twice since then against Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett.
While Lopez is sold on the plans, Hitchins is not convinced. With both he and his potential opponent proud New Yorkers from Brooklyn, he believes ‘The Big Apple’ is the only location that makes sense.
‘Alcatraz, that don’t make the fight fun for me,’ Hitchens told Fight Hype. ‘I wanted to fight in New York. That was the whole storyline, two guys from New York, fighting there.
‘I’ve been holding the city down since the 2016 Olympics, representing the city. If it makes sense [to fight in Alcatraz], I haven’t got an offer yet, I’ll leave happy.
‘The fight isn’t as fun for me than if it were in New York. Turki said he wanted to do it under the Brooklyn Bridge. I’m also hearing about Madison Square Garden and the Barclays.
‘I’m still with the fight. We just got to wait and see what it’s about. Eddie Hearn will be talking to Turki in the next week or so, and they’re going to see what it brings to the table. So, as long as it makes sense, I’m down to make it happen.’