Fight Night -- a good idea?

[Kevin]

The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington
October 22, 2002

U. Texas fraternity brawls for charity in Fight Night

By Britney Tabor, The Shorthorn


Fraternities and student organizations from the University of
Texas-Arlington and area schools will fight to raise money for the
Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Literally.

UTA's Sigma Chi fraternity is sponsoring Fight Night XV from 7-11
p.m. Thursday at Cowboys Club, 2540 E. Abram St. Tickets are $ 10 at the door. Profits from T-shirt sales at the event also will be given
to the club. The event will feature 20 amateur boxing fights among 40 members of fraternities and clubs from here, Texas Christian University, the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University and other area schools. Fights consist of three one-minute rounds, with participants competing in teams or individually. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive medals.

Corporate sponsor Wingstop will donate buffalo-style chicken wings for a wing-eating contest accompanying the fights. The fraternity also will raffle Dallas Stars, Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers memorabilia; the grand prize is a hockey jersey signed by Dallas Stars center Mike Modono.

Event Chair Casey Townsend said the fraternity started planning the event in June and expects 1,500-2,000 attendees. Last year, the event raised $ 7,000, and more than 1,400 people attended.

Sigma Chi Treasurer Ramon Hernandez said the hardest part of
preparations has been ensuring that the boxers are matched by weight.

He said Fight Night is only one of the opportunities the fraternity
has to give to others and have fun.

"We give a lot back to everybody," he said. "A lot of people have
fun, and it's just a way to get everybody involved."

During the weekend, the fraternity and the Delta Delta Delta sorority dressed in costumes and made hot dogs for 25 children from the local Boys and Girls Club chapter, he said.

"It was good to have the kids come out and play," he said. "As a kid, it's always good to come out and see bigger kids act crazy and play around."

(C) 2002 The Shorthorn

[DeltAlum]

I'm not a real boxing fan, but if the event is carefully and professionally controlled, this can be a good fund raiser.

They used to do this at Ohio University in the Convocation Center (basketball arena), but I don't know if it's still going on. My impression is that it was considered a pretty big deal.