Joe Robert, founder of Fight For Children, the organization that gives area children a fighting chance, was honored for this 22 years of service.
Having gained a noticeable amount of weight since his last Fight Night gala, Joe Roberts was wheeled into the boxing ring (cigar in hand) where he received his own championship-like belt for helping kids receive a quality education.
Over the last twenty years, Roberts has raised over over $450m. Roberts' next creation, The Joe Roberts Foundation, will continue the cause.
Boxing legends at center ring, attend the 2011 Fight For Children gala.
Suffering from brain cancer, often inaudible at times during his remarks at center ring, Roberts announced that he will be donating $5 million of his own money to his new foundation.
DC Mayor Vincent Gray presented Roberts with a proclamation, making November 10, 2011 'Joe Robert Day' in the District of Columbia.
The event that brings the legends of boxing together for a good cause was again a sellout that saw the likes of Aaron Pryor, Jerry Cooney, Boom Boom Mancini, Michael Spinks, and Larry Holmes.
Missing from this year's event, unlike past galas, was the celebrity factor.
In past Fight Night galas DC area businesses mixed with the likes of professional athletes and celebs like actor Chris Tucker, record producers Baby Face Edmonds and Jermaine DuPri, and 80s rap artist MC Hammer.
We saw no such celeb power this year.
Also not in attendance this year was Joe Frazier, who passed just days before the event, due to liver cancer.
Legendary boxer, Larry Holmes, remarks on Frazier's passing, calling "the current state of boxing a tragedy".
Boxing great Gerry Cooney said of Frazier's passing, "Nobody knew he was sick". Cooney called Frazier a one of a kind boxer who was "loved" and "would be missed".
Also not in attendance this year was boxing legend Ken Norton.
Three members of the 70s/80s funk group The Commodores (minus Lionel Richie) performed three of their greatest hits, to include Brick House. The group performed a special tribute to Joe Frazier with the group's signature Night Shift, originally a tribute song to legendary R&B artists Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
The event showcased several rounds of boxing.
Baltimore's Emmanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor (14-1), who told us his fighting style mirrored that of the late Joe Frazier, lost an eight-round split decision to Cleveland, Ohio's Prenice Brewer (16-1).
In the second fight on the evening Alexandria, Virginia's Jerren "Hard Knock" Cochran dominated Winston Salem's Jason Rorie to win via unanimous decision.
Wilson's record improves to 4-0, while Rorie, anxious for his next contest, falls to 6-14-2, with three KO's.
Fighters of the upcoming December 10th Capital Showdown boxing event to be held at the DC Convention Center made an appearance. The event features undefeated heavyweight contender Seth Mithcell against Timur Ibragimov, and welterweight LaMont Peterson going against Amir Khan. Brother Anthony Peterson also made an appearance. His opponent for the December 10 showing is yet to be announced.
Photos
The folks over at Revamp.com have a nice photo spread of the evening. Click here to see.
Having gained a noticeable amount of weight since his last Fight Night gala, Joe Roberts was wheeled into the boxing ring (cigar in hand) where he received his own championship-like belt for helping kids receive a quality education.
Over the last twenty years, Roberts has raised over over $450m. Roberts' next creation, The Joe Roberts Foundation, will continue the cause.
Suffering from brain cancer, often inaudible at times during his remarks at center ring, Roberts announced that he will be donating $5 million of his own money to his new foundation.
DC Mayor Vincent Gray presented Roberts with a proclamation, making November 10, 2011 'Joe Robert Day' in the District of Columbia.
The event that brings the legends of boxing together for a good cause was again a sellout that saw the likes of Aaron Pryor, Jerry Cooney, Boom Boom Mancini, Michael Spinks, and Larry Holmes.
Missing from this year's event, unlike past galas, was the celebrity factor.
In past Fight Night galas DC area businesses mixed with the likes of professional athletes and celebs like actor Chris Tucker, record producers Baby Face Edmonds and Jermaine DuPri, and 80s rap artist MC Hammer.
We saw no such celeb power this year.
Also not in attendance this year was Joe Frazier, who passed just days before the event, due to liver cancer.
Legendary boxer, Larry Holmes, remarks on Frazier's passing, calling "the current state of boxing a tragedy".
Boxing great Gerry Cooney said of Frazier's passing, "Nobody knew he was sick". Cooney called Frazier a one of a kind boxer who was "loved" and "would be missed".
Also not in attendance this year was boxing legend Ken Norton.
Three members of the 70s/80s funk group The Commodores (minus Lionel Richie) performed three of their greatest hits, to include Brick House. The group performed a special tribute to Joe Frazier with the group's signature Night Shift, originally a tribute song to legendary R&B artists Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
The event showcased several rounds of boxing.
Baltimore's Emmanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor (14-1), who told us his fighting style mirrored that of the late Joe Frazier, lost an eight-round split decision to Cleveland, Ohio's Prenice Brewer (16-1).
In the second fight on the evening Alexandria, Virginia's Jerren "Hard Knock" Cochran dominated Winston Salem's Jason Rorie to win via unanimous decision.
Wilson's record improves to 4-0, while Rorie, anxious for his next contest, falls to 6-14-2, with three KO's.
Fighters of the upcoming December 10th Capital Showdown boxing event to be held at the DC Convention Center made an appearance. The event features undefeated heavyweight contender Seth Mithcell against Timur Ibragimov, and welterweight LaMont Peterson going against Amir Khan. Brother Anthony Peterson also made an appearance. His opponent for the December 10 showing is yet to be announced.
Photos
The folks over at Revamp.com have a nice photo spread of the evening. Click here to see.
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