The U.S. Supreme Court case International Boxing Club of New York, Inc., et al. v. United States in 1958 revolved around the issue of whether professional boxing matches constituted trade or commerce under antitrust laws and if monopolistic practices were involved in their organization and promotion. The court ruled that such activities did indeed constitute interstate commerce, thus falling within the purview of federal antitrust legislation. The defendants - International Boxing Club (IBC) along with Madison Square Garden Corporation, among others - had been charged with conspiring to monopolize championship boxing contests by controlling contracts for broadcasting rights and venue leases which violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. Despite arguments from IBC that their activities were not a form of trade or commerce but rather a sport, Justice John Marshall Harlan II delivered an opinion affirming lower courts' decisions against them.

In the dissenting opinion for the case of International Boxing Club of New York, Inc. v. United States, Justice Frankfurter argued that boxing matches should not be considered as part of interstate commerce and therefore outside the purview of antitrust laws. He contended that while television broadcasts may transmit these events across state lines, this does not automatically make them a subject to federal regulation under the Commerce Clause. The justice also expressed concern about extending federal jurisdiction too broadly in areas traditionally regulated by states or local entities such as sports competitions. Furthermore, he disagreed with majority's interpretation on how Sherman Act applies to professional boxing industry and its monopolistic practices.