Boxing was once one of America’s most popular sports and Ocean City offered both amateur and professional fights in the late 1920s and 1930s. Captain W.B.S Powell — prominent businessman and former Ocean City mayor — was the local boxing promoter. Bouts were held in an outdoor arena between South Division Street and S. 1st Street in the area where Trimper’s roller coaster is located today.
Locals that appeared in the amateur matched included Jerome Harmon, Bill Griffin, Turner P. Cropper and Bill Burbage while professional and semi-pro bouts drew large crowds. On at least one occasion former World Heavyweight champion Primo Carnera appeared in Ocean City while Salisbury native Danny Russell (pictured above) was a crowd favorite for many years.
Although popular in the Depression-era 1930s, regular boxing ended in Ocean City by the time World War II began.
Photo courtesy of Christine Dennis