Houston Business Tycoons Throw Down in $1.1 Million Black-Tie Boxing Night
This White Collar Amateur Fun Packs Quite a Punch
BY Shelby Hodge // 11.26.19Female boxers Eliza Schlesigner in red and Samantha Vulpis in blue at Black Tie Boxing (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)
It’s still hard for this girly girl to understand why a clutch of suits (i.e. commodity traders, investment bankers, etc.) would risk their pretty faces by getting in the ring and punching one another. Thus, I’ll never quite understand the Throw Down Society’s “Black Tie Boxing” benefit.
But applause, applause for those gents and the occasional femme who donned the gloves and raised $1.1 million in the fight against child sex trafficking. In short, the boxers were fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.
The contenders, hailing from companies including Chevron, Kayne Anderson, Shell, Musket, Vitol and Citi Group, spend three to six months training with professionals such as former heavyweight boxing champion Lou Savarese at Savarese Fight Fit. Each boxer is regulated by USABoxing, the national governing body for Olympic-style amateur boxing.
In all, 18 amateurs (including two heavy-hitter women) entered the ring in the swank party palace The Revaire, where 625 black-tie attired guests had come for dinner, a swell live auction and cheering on the boxing matchups. They also had the opportunity to sip on a $100 glass of champagne, the purchase of which could mean the win of a dazzling diamond from Lewis Jewelers.
So popular is this event that 60 fans poured into BBLemon for the simulcast and 150 filled the house for the after-party there.
The third annual “Black Tie Boxing” fundraiser was hosted by the Throw Down Society in partnership with Savarese Fight Fit and Berg Hospitality’s B&B Butchers & Restaurant, the latter guaranteeing that the seated three-course dinner would be tops.
Elizabeth Anthony
The food fest began with Chef Tommy’s signature appetizers — Bacon, Mini Carpet Baggers and Beef Wellingtons. For dinner, guests feasted on eight ounce Prime Filet, B&B Mac and Cheese, and New York Cheesecake.
The evening’s proceeds will assist Hope Rising in creating a center for emergency care for boys and girls who are victims of sex crimes and sex trafficking.
PC Seen: Monica and Ben Berg, Louisa and Lou Savarese, Jordan and Dylan Seff, Amanda Boffone, Stephanie Fleck, Loretta and Darren Horowitz, Stephanie Perkins, Lucinda Loya, Monsour Taghdisi, Amy Pierce, Rania Mankarious, Fady Armanious, Bill Baldwin, Mary Sarah, Donae Chramosta, Tony Buzbee, Vanessa and Chuck Ames, and Stephanie Perkins.
