LOS ANGELES, CA (May 23, 2019) - For the tenth year, B. Riley FBR, Inc. presented the annual "Big Fighters, Big Cause"Charity Boxing Night on Wednesday, May 22 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Actor and comedian Bill Bellamy hosted the exclusive star-studded event which featured first-class entertainment, a National Anthem performance by Pia Toscano, four action-packed live fights presented by Golden Boy and a live and silent auction display featuring iconic memorabilia and one-of-a-kind items and experiences.
The event raised over $500,000. Proceeds benefit the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation's mission to fund life-changing research, care and awareness for pediatric type 1 and 2 diabetes, and to help children live healthier lives through diet and exercise.
Among the other celebrity guests in attendance, the Foundation welcomed Sugar Ray Leonard and Bernadette Leonard, Michael Buffer, Tommy Chong, Curtis Conway, Cindy Crawford, Tommy Davidson, Rande Gerber, Johnny Gill, Taraji P. Henson, Sophia Hutchins, LL Cool J, Caitlyn Jenner, Magic Johnson, Tina Knowles, Dolph Lundgren, Judge Mathis, Sergio Mora, Eddie Murphy, Terry Norris, Rodney Peete, Smokey Robinson, Holly Robinson Peete, Mia St. John, Chris Spencer, Eric Tozer, and Usher.
The live fights presented by Golden Boy featured super bantamweight Rudy Garcia (10-0, 1 KO) of Los Angeles defeating Rafael "El Alikin" Gramajo (10-2-2, 2 KOs) of Garden City, Kansas in the main event. "It's an honor to fight on a card hosted by Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya," said Rudy Garcia. "I look up to these legends. I learned from them by studying videos of them, so it's an honor."
Also on the card was Chris Ousley (10-0, 8 KOs) of Chicago, who beat Derion Chapman (3-4-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles via six-round unanimous decision in a super middleweight fight. Ousley won with three scores of 60-54. Brandyn Lynch (10-1, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles stopped Donnis Reed (3-3, 2 KOs) of San Diego, Calif. in the second round of a scheduled four-round middleweight fight. The time of the stoppage was 1:25 of the aforementioned round. Los Angeles native Amir Easley (2-0, 1 KO) closed the night by scoring a four-round unanimous decision against Ryan Edwards (1-1) of Long Beach, Calif. in a four-round heavyweight fight.