ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City recently rolled out the red carpet – and the boxing ring canvas – for a celebratory three-day reunion of fight legends and fans.

The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame’s 9th Annual Awards & Induction Weekend held from Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28, 2025, transformed the resort into a boxing haven, honoring icons past and present.

Boxing royalty descended upon the Boardwalk as the Class of 2025 inductees, from world champions to referees and matchmakers, gathered to celebrate Atlantic City’s rich boxing history and tight-knit community. Over the course of the weekend, attendees enjoyed everything from VIP cocktail receptions and brunch with legends to interactive memorabilia exhibits and a glamorous induction ceremony.

The atmosphere seamlessly shifted between casual camaraderie and formal pomp, but throughout ran a consistent tone of reverence for the sport’s legends and the city that helped make boxing history. Below is a day-by-day recap of the festivities.

Friday: VIP Opening Bell at Hard Rock’s Balcony Lounge

The festivities kicked off Friday evening with the “Opening Bell” VIP Cocktail Reception at The Balcony, an upscale cabaret-style lounge inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The mood was one of excitement and nostalgia; many inductees were returning to a city where they’d forged key moments of their careers decades ago. By the end of the night, the “Opening Bell” reception had set an upbeat, familial tone for the weekend ahead, with legends and supporters raising a toast to Atlantic City’s boxing legacy.

Saturday: Brunch, Fan Encounters, and a Red-Carpet Induction Ceremony

• Saturday Morning – Boxing Brunch by the Bay: Day Two began on a casual note as inductees and fans gathered for a late-morning Boxing Brunch at Kelsey & Kim’s Oceanview Restaurant at the Flagship Resort known for its soul food and seaside views.
• Saturday Afternoon – Pre-Ceremony Glamour: By mid-afternoon, the focus shifted back to the Hard Rock for a markedly more formal affair. A Pre-Cocktail Reception at The Balcony (now with an evening elegance) welcomed ticketed guests and VIPs from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. ahead of the induction ceremony. In contrast to the previous night’s looseness, this reception was all about glamour: the dress code had turned to suits and gowns. Attendees who hours earlier wore boxing T-shirts were now in black-tie attire, clinking champagne flutes.
• Saturday Evening – Induction Ceremony at Sound Waves Theater: The marquee event, the 9th Annual Awards & Induction Ceremony, began as the sun set on Saturday. Held in Hard Rock’s Sound Waves Theater, the ceremony unfolded in award-show style with all the glitz one might expect.

The Awards & Induction Ceremony proved to be the pinnacle of the weekend, a formally dazzling yet heartfelt tribute to those who helped make Atlantic City one of boxing’s most storied meccas.

Sunday: Fan Expo and a “Closing Bell” with Legends

After the glamour and emotions of Saturday night, Sunday was all about the fans. Late Sunday morning, the action shifted to the Hard Rock’s Sound Waves Theater lobby for the Fight Fan Experience, a free expo that ran from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If the previous evening was akin to boxing’s Oscars, this was its county fair – open to the public and buzzing with interactive fun. The lobby was transformed into a boxing bazaar: booths displayed vintage fight memorabilia and championship belts, artists exhibited stunning boxing-themed artwork, and vendors sold everything from classic fight posters to custom gloves. At one end, fans lined up for autograph and photo opportunities with the inductees and other legends who graciously stuck around for the public meet-and-greet. At another area, a small ring had been set up where trainers gave kids mitt-work demonstrations.

In the end, the 9th Annual ACBHOF Awards & Induction Weekend felt like much more than a series of events – it was a three-day family reunion for the boxing world, full of exclusive experiences and public celebrations in equal measure. From the elegant cocktail hours to the laughter of brunch and fan fest, every moment balanced reverence and revelry. Atlantic City once again proved itself a vibrant host for boxing’s legends, providing an atmosphere where champions and community could celebrate side by side.

As the final bell rang on Sunday’s mixer, attendees departed with full hearts and memories to last a lifetime – already chatting about how they can’t wait to reunite under the Hard Rock’s lights for next year’s Hall of Fame festivities. The legacy of boxing in Atlantic City is alive and well, lovingly preserved in weekends like this where history comes alive and everyone leaves as part of the fight family.

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