1849: Heavyweight Championship of America takes place in Maryland

The only problem being that boxing was illegal at the time.

"February 7th was a day of intense excitement in this city, it being the day set apart for the great prize-fight between Hyer and Yankee Sullivan, in which, contrary to general expectation, Sullivan was dreadfully whipped by Hyer, who sustained but comparative little injury, winning the stakes ($10,000) in sixteen minutes.
The police force under High Constable Gifford, started in hacks for Carroll's Island to operate by land in that direction. The Independent Greys, Capt. Hall, and the Independent Blues, Capt. Shutt, were on brief notice ordered out, "armed and equipped as the law directs," all under the command of Major Watkins. The steamer Boston having been chartered by Attorney-General Richardson to carry the military to the "seat of war," started off about 12 o'clock on the night of the 6th, and reached the field of battle about daylight. The police and military arrived on Poole's Island about 3 o'clock on the morning of the fight, but both of the principals escaped.
The fight took place notwithstanding all the efforts to prevent it, on Rock Point, in Kent County, Maryland. As it was, none of those who were on board the boat, and those of the police who so nobly endured the most laborious and painful hardships to prevent the fight, will ever forget this memorable "expedition to Poole's Island." - John Thomas Scharf