A Boxing Smoker is an old term that basically referred to unsanctioned fights that would be held at local clubs, like a Moose Lodge. It also was noted for the heavy smoke haze that formed over the audience from the cigars and cigarettes. Fight Night 2013 was a great Boxing Smoker in every aspect. Fight Night is one of DC’s largest fund raising events. It was created in 1990 by the late Joseph E. Robert Jr. as a way to help low-income children have better access to clothes, shelter and an education.
Fight Night raises funds for Fight For Children and several other organizations in the DC, Virginia and Maryland area. The fundraiser seems to get better and better by each year. In 2011, the event raised over $2 million, in 2012, the event raised over $3 million and with the help of the sponsor, Under Armour, Fight Night raised over $4 million for low-income children this year. This fantastic event and charity has made it’s mark on the DC area.
A silent auction and happy hour started the evening. With signed Redskin’s gear, precious jewelry, vacation packages and a brand new Maserati there was a little bit of everything for all of the guests to enjoy and bid on. “Golden Gloves” VIP guests included CEO of Under Armour and Chairman for Fight Night DC, Kevin Plank, retired professional boxers, Gerry Cooney, Michael Spinks, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, and Aaron Pryor, former Redskin’s players, Charles Mann and Brian Mitchell, musicians, MC Hammer and John Legend, ESPN’s, Jeremy Schaap, Redskin’s cheerleaders and many more!
After a few cocktails and competitive bidding, you walk downstairs to the large ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel. With cigar boxes on every table, a beautiful hostess in a red evening gown, open bar, and excellent conversation, there is no way the evening could be anything but enjoyable and eventful. General Cigars set up one of their top Cuban cigar rollers in the VIP section. Having started rolling cigars when he was 16 and now pushing 70, their roller was unbelievably quick.
After a delicious meal, a few rounds of boxing and art work by Tim Decker, the evening concluded with the celebration of earning $4 million for Fight for Children. Of course the evening had to end with an after party! Although there were many to choose from, our team went to the Ritz Carlton around the corner to celebrate with the other event Fight for Children had planned that evening.
Overall, it was a great, successful event and we could not have been more honored to be a sponsor and supply the cigars.
