Arena México
Encyclopedia
Arena México is an indoor arena
in Mexico City
, Mexico
located in the Colonia Doctores
neighboorhood in the Cuauhtémoc
borough
. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling
, or Lucha libre
, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
(CMLL). The building is called the "cathedral of lucha libre". Arena México has a seating capacity of 16,500 when configured for professional wrestling or boxing events. The current building was completed in 1956, build by Salvador Lutteroth
, owner of CMLL at the time and is the largest arena build specifically for wrestling. The building was used as the venue for the boxing
competition at the 1968 Summer Olympics
, and throughout the last half of the 20th century hosted several large boxing events.
events. By the early 1930s the arena was abandoned until professional wrestling promoter
Salvador Lutteroth
began promoting wrestling, or Lucha libre events in Arena Modelo on September 21, 1933. For the next ten years it served as the main venue for Lutteroth's promotion Empressa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(EMLL) until Lutteroth commissioned the construction of "Arena Coliseo" in Mexico City. After Arena Coliseo opened in 1943, Arena Model served as the location for EMLL's wrestling school. By 1953 even Arena Coliseo was too small for the crowds EMLL's shows were attracting, Lutteroth promised to "build the largest wrestling arena in the world" on the site of Arena Modelo and construction started not long after.
Arena México, as it was renamed, stood complete in 1956 and is to this day still the largest arena build specifically for professional wrestling. From 1956 and forward Arena México has been the main venue for EMLL and all of their Anniversary shows
. In 1968 it was selected to be the location of the boxing competition
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
that was held in Mexico City. Since its construction, Arena Mexico had been hosting boxing shows on a regular basis and following the refurbishment for the Olympic Games, several major boxing events have been held at Arena Mexico, hosting several world title bouts. In 1990 EMLL was renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), retaining ownership of the arena.
shows and have done so since the arena opened in 1956.
have fought here. Some of those that have include Rubén Olivares
, Chucho Castillo
, Carlos Zárate Serna, Pipino Cuevas
, Julio Guerrero, "Famoso" Gómez, Memo Téllez, Miguel Castro and Raúl Rodríguez. Arena Mexico was the scene of “Púas” Rubén Olivares major victories and it was the scene of his last fight, when he was beaten by newcomer Ignacio Madrid. Most of the biggest fights took place here in the 1960s and 1970s.
One notable world championship fight occurred here in 1989, when Ghana
n Nana Konadu
fought Mexican Giberto Román in the superflyweight division. No one anticipated a chance for Konadu, but he won.
From 2000 to 2008 , there had not been a world-class championship fight in Arena Mexico. However, it returned when Mexican Jorge “Travieso” Arce
beat Panamanian Rafael Concepción
in the super flyweight division and Mexican Jackie Nava
beat Argentinian Betina Garino in the female bantamweight division.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
located in the Colonia Doctores
Colonia Doctores
Colonia Doctores is an official neighborhood just southwest of the historic center of Mexico City. It is bordered by Avenida Cuauhtémoc to the west, Arcos de Belen Street to the north, Eje Central to the east and Eje 3 Sur José Peón Contreras to the south....
neighboorhood in the Cuauhtémoc
Cuauhtémoc, D.F.
Cuauhtémoc, named after the former Aztec leader, is one of the 16 boroughs of the Federal district of Mexico City. It consists of the oldest parts of the city, extending over what was the entire city in the 1920s. This area is the historic and culture center of the city, although it is not the...
borough
Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District
Mexico City — politically and administratively constituted as the Federal District — is divided into sixteen boroughs for administrative purposes. They constitute second-level administrative divisions, on par with the municipalities of Mexico. However, unlike municipalities, they do not have...
. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, or Lucha libre
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(CMLL). The building is called the "cathedral of lucha libre". Arena México has a seating capacity of 16,500 when configured for professional wrestling or boxing events. The current building was completed in 1956, build by Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth was a Mexican professional wrestling promoter of the mid-twentieth century. Lutteroth's promotion, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre , has been the dominant Mexican promotion since its founding in 1933, until Lutteroth left the company in the 1950s...
, owner of CMLL at the time and is the largest arena build specifically for wrestling. The building was used as the venue for the boxing
Boxing at the 1968 Summer Olympics
-Medal table:- Light Flyweight :-First Round:* Tahar Aziz def. David Nata , 4:1* Hubert Skrzypczak def. Mohamed Sohem , 5:0* Joseph Donovan def. György Gedó , TKO-2...
competition at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, and throughout the last half of the 20th century hosted several large boxing events.
History
The location on calle Doctor Lavista #203, Col. Doctores on the intersection of Dr.Rafael Lucio, Dr. Carmona and Valle, was originally an all-purpose arena called Arena Modelo. Arena Modelo was built in the 1910s or 1920s for boxingBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
events. By the early 1930s the arena was abandoned until professional wrestling promoter
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth was a Mexican professional wrestling promoter of the mid-twentieth century. Lutteroth's promotion, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre , has been the dominant Mexican promotion since its founding in 1933, until Lutteroth left the company in the 1950s...
began promoting wrestling, or Lucha libre events in Arena Modelo on September 21, 1933. For the next ten years it served as the main venue for Lutteroth's promotion Empressa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(EMLL) until Lutteroth commissioned the construction of "Arena Coliseo" in Mexico City. After Arena Coliseo opened in 1943, Arena Model served as the location for EMLL's wrestling school. By 1953 even Arena Coliseo was too small for the crowds EMLL's shows were attracting, Lutteroth promised to "build the largest wrestling arena in the world" on the site of Arena Modelo and construction started not long after.
Arena México, as it was renamed, stood complete in 1956 and is to this day still the largest arena build specifically for professional wrestling. From 1956 and forward Arena México has been the main venue for EMLL and all of their Anniversary shows
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Anniversary Shows
The Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Anniversary Show is the biggest annual professional wrestling event promoted by Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , held in September every year, commemorating the creationg of CMLL, then known as Empressa Mexican de Lucha...
. In 1968 it was selected to be the location of the boxing competition
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
that was held in Mexico City. Since its construction, Arena Mexico had been hosting boxing shows on a regular basis and following the refurbishment for the Olympic Games, several major boxing events have been held at Arena Mexico, hosting several world title bouts. In 1990 EMLL was renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), retaining ownership of the arena.
Present operations
Arena México hosts weekly wrestling events promoted by CMLL, on Tuesdays they have present "CMLL Martes Arena Mexico" (CMLL Tuesday Arena Mexico) and on Fridays they present "CMLL Super Viernes" (CMLL Super Friday), which is the promotions primary event, taped for television. Arena México also hosts all of CMLL's feature events and Pay-Per-ViewPay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
shows and have done so since the arena opened in 1956.
As a boxing venue
From the 1950s to near the end of the 20th century, Arena Mexico was a major venue for boxing as well. During this time, all of Mexico’s boxing greats, except Julio César ChávezJulio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
have fought here. Some of those that have include Rubén Olivares
Rubén Olivares
Rubén Olivares is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. A native of Mexico City, Olivares was a world champion multiple times, and considered by many as the greatest bantamweight champion of all time. He was very popular among Mexicans, many of whom considered him...
, Chucho Castillo
Chucho Castillo
Jesus Castillo Aguillera is a former Mexican boxer. Better known as Chucho Castillo, he was WBA and WBC Bantamweight champion in 1970....
, Carlos Zárate Serna, Pipino Cuevas
Jose Cuevas
José Isidro "Pipino" Cuevas González is a Mexican former world champion boxer at the welterweight division.-Professional career:...
, Julio Guerrero, "Famoso" Gómez, Memo Téllez, Miguel Castro and Raúl Rodríguez. Arena Mexico was the scene of “Púas” Rubén Olivares major victories and it was the scene of his last fight, when he was beaten by newcomer Ignacio Madrid. Most of the biggest fights took place here in the 1960s and 1970s.
One notable world championship fight occurred here in 1989, when Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
n Nana Konadu
Nana Konadu
Nana Yaw Konadu Yeboah is a retired boxer who won World titles in two different weight divisions. Konadu turned pro in 1985 and in 1989 won the WBC Super Flyweight Title by winning a decision over Gilberto Roman. He lost the belt in his first defense to Sung Kil Moon in 1990 and lost a rematch to...
fought Mexican Giberto Román in the superflyweight division. No one anticipated a chance for Konadu, but he won.
From 2000 to 2008 , there had not been a world-class championship fight in Arena Mexico. However, it returned when Mexican Jorge “Travieso” Arce
Jorge Arce
Jorge Armando Arce Armenta is a Mexican professional boxer. Arce is the former WBO World Light Flyweight, WBC World Light Flyweight, Interim WBC World Flyweight, Interim WBA World Super Flyweight, WBO World Super Flyweight, WBO World Super Bantamweight, and is the current WBO World Bantamweight...
beat Panamanian Rafael Concepción
Rafael Concepción
Rafael Concepción is a boxer from the Republic of Panama, nicknamed "El Torito". He has a record of 13 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.He fought A. J. "Bazooka" Banal of the Philippines for the WBA interim Super Flyweight Title on July 26, 2008 which he came out the victor. Though trailing in points,...
in the super flyweight division and Mexican Jackie Nava
Jackie Nava
Jacqueline Nava Mouett is a Mexican boxer in the Super Featherweight division and is managed by former world champion Erik Morales...
beat Argentinian Betina Garino in the female bantamweight division.