What a knockout!
A formal gala was combined with the sport of boxing during a unique fundraiser held Sept. 21 at the Embassy Suites Little Rock.
The Charity Black Tie Affair, benefiting the Ray Rodgers Boxing Club, took place in the Ambassador Ballroom.
The Zac Dunlap Band provided music for the event, which began with a cocktail reception complete with silent auction and hors d’oeuvres, and went into a dinner highlighted by parmesan herb-crusted breast of chicken with a beurre blanc sauce. Former Razorback footballer Anthony Lucas served as master of ceremonies for an evening that began with a short documentary that told the story of Rodgers — boxing coach, trainer, cutman and Arkansas Sports Hall of Famer — his contribution to boxing in Arkansas, including his coaching of notable amateur boxers and his organizing of Golden and Silver Gloves competitions; and the club that bears his name, which was devastated by flooding earlier this year.
A live auction featured a day at the races with KTHV’s Craig O’Neill; earrings from Jones & Son Diamond and Bridal Fine Jewelry; a boxing glove autographed by Canela Alvarez and Rocky Fielding before their Dec. 15, 2018, bout at Madison Square Garden in New York; and treatments from Divine Aesthetics. Guests also bought gold boxes in a raffle for a limited-edition “City Lights” Tacori bracelet of green onyx and sterling silver.
The evening culminated in four boxing matches before the Main Event, in which Demarcus Layton defeated Brandon Baue and was presented with the title belt.