S. Derby Gisclair, author of a new book titled "The Olympic Club of New Orleans: Epicenter of Professional Boxing, 1883 - 1897," will discuss it at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public.

Gisclair dares readers to “imagine a sporting arena that could accommodate more than 10,000 spectators, with a retractable roof and whose interior was brilliantly lit with both high-intensity arc lights as well as incandescent lighting fixtures throughout; an arena that was wired for both telegraph and telephone connections to accommodate the international press.”

This is not a contemporary building, but describes the Olympic Club's arena in 1890. This historic venue was the site of Jack Dempsey's shocking defeat at the hands of Bob Fitzsimmons in 1891, and the unheard of Fistic Carnival -- three world championship title fights that occurred at the Olympic Club on three consecutive days in September of 1892 -- an unprecedented event that culminated in the downfall of the legendary John L. Sullivan by newcomer James J. Corbett. In its brief history, the Olympic Club transformed from a modest athletic club into one of the most famous and sought after boxing venues in the world.

In the late 19th century New Orleans was a mecca for professional and amateur boxers despite city and state regulations that expressly prohibited prize fighting. However ambiguously worded these regulations may have been, eventually boxing became permissible and fighters from across the globe descended on New Orleans with the hope of making their mark at the Olympic Club.

“It is not surprising that few people have ever heard of the Olympic Club,” Gisclair said, “which made this an irresistible story that I was compelled to share with lovers of New Orleans history."

The Olympic Club of New Orleans: Epicenter of Professional Boxing, 1883 - 1897, was published in September of 2018. Gisclair is a frequent speaker on the rich sports history of New Orleans and has authored more than 100 articles on local and regional sports personalities and events. His previous books include Baseball in New Orleans and Baseball at Tulane University, both from Arcadia Publishing. He also authored Early Baseball in New Orleans: A History of 19th Century Play. Gisclair lives in New Orleans.

For more information regarding this event, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.