‘Black Tie Boxing’ knocks out $1.1 million
Houston, we have a new tradition.
At the tail end of fall’s swirl of social events, what better way to knock out the season than with a charitable “Black Tie Boxing” gala? To that end, Throw Down Society’s evening of amateur boxing proved just the ticket.
When the idea took shape in 2017, pals Lou Savarese, former heavyweight champion, and Benjamin Berg, head honcho of Berg Hospitality Group, tapped professional fighters to step into the ring. The following year, Jordan Seff, co-owner of Savarese Fight Fit West U, entered the equation and helped make the switch from pros to locals.
That’s how 18 area executives — including a pair of businesswomen — from the energy sector, investment banking and more wound up going head to head. But don’t worry — these were amateurs, not first-timers. Each competitor was regulated by USA Boxing and trained for months leading up to the match. By fight night, their colleagues from Chevron, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, Shell Energy, Musket Corporation, Vitol Inc., and Citigroup Inc., among others, were revved and ready to cheer on their favorite hopefuls.
A sellout crowd descended upon the Revaire, where the festivities kicked off with a 1-carat-diamond raffle presented by Lewis Jewelers and two of B&B Butchers & Restaurant’s most-popular menu items: Chef Tommy’s Bacon, mini Carpet Bagger burgers, and beef Wellingtons. Later, guests enjoyed a prime filet, B&B Mac & Cheese and New York Cheesecake from the
Washington Ave. steakhouse as well.
Afterward, the packed house rose to its feet for “The Voice” Season 10 contender Mary Sarah’s powerful rendition of the national anthem.
Then the real action began.
The audience yelled loudest for the two female fighters, who admittedly put on quite a show.
Midprogram, mayoral candidate Tony Buzbee arrived in a big way. From his ringside seat, the attorney and art collector won a set of three paintings by Barbara Perlick for $35,000 — the highest live-auction bid of the night — before promptly donating the artwork back to the event. Artists Angela Fabbri, Erik Del Rio, Justin Garcia, Kyler Sharp, Patti Lennon Potter, Taft McWhorter, Travis Hedemann and Zachary Hunt also contributed pieces to the cause.
In total, their efforts helped garner a record $1.1 million for Hope Rising and Houston20, two nonprofit organizations that rescue and provide emergency care to young victims of sex trafficking.