Black-tie boxing has a knockout reputation
when it comes to the City of Tulsa.

For the last 20 years, the sporting event has earned special attention because of its entertainment value and, in recent years, its link to local charitable organizations.

Boxing made a grand entrance in Tulsa when brothers Ray and Robin Siegfried organized the "Black Tie Smokers" amateur boxing at the Tulsa Club in 1984. A love of the sport was natural for both men: Robin was a competitive boxer in his high school years, and Ray boxed at the collegiate level while at Notre Dame. He was later a boxing coach for the United States Army.

Black Tie Smoker amateur boxing remained a part of the Tulsa Club under the Siegfrieds' leadership for the next eight years. In 1991, a new venue of boxing was introduced to the Siegfried brothers when Rick Guild, an officer in the local National Association of Industrial and Office Parks organization (NAIOP), attended a charity event in Dallas called "Fight Night." This unique event utilized the concept of combining business networking, appearances by boxing legends and gourmet food and professional international boxing competition to raise money for charity. He enjoyed the evening and believed the concept was a great fit and wonderful opportunity for Tulsa.

As long-time boxing aficionados, Ray and Robin Siegfried were the natural choice to complete a partnership with NAIOP to produce this event. With the Siegfrieds and NAIOP to underwrite the event, the first-ever Tulsa Charity Fight Night (TCFN) was held on May 7, 1992.

In the transition from the amateur boxing days at the Tulsa Club to the current Tulsa Charity Fight Night, with professional boxing, a need developed for a manager to coordinate the event. Several individuals, including Dick Clark, volunteered to make TCFN I a success. TCFN II brought additional leadership with Hank Grimmer heading the event from 1993 – 1998. After Grimmer’s tenure, Michael Tupps presided over the event from 1999 – 2001. Today, Mary O'Connor leads Tulsa's best-known charity event, with event experience dating back to TCFN II.

Contributing to the continued success of Tulsa charity Fight Night is Tony Holden of Holden Productions. Holden, a boxing promoter and entrepreneur, volunteered his time and expertise to assist TCFN since 1995, when the event became a volunteer-based production.

Tulsa Charity Fight Night has become one of the most popular events in the city, selling out year after year. Nearly $1 million has been raised to benefit various Tulsa charities, while bringing celebrities and professional boxing to the city.

Beneficiaries to Tulsa Charity Fight Night have included:

• The Bridges Foundation
• Tulsa Habitat for Humanity
• ** Family and Children's Services
• Big Brothers and Sisters of Oklahoma
• Make A Wish Foundation of Oklahoma
• Meals On Wheels
• ** Tulsa Boys' Home
• Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless
• Youth Services of Tulsa
• 12 & 12
• Catholic Charities
• Tulsa Aquarium Foundation
• University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane Club
• Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
• Special Olympics Oklahoma
• Muscular Dystrophy Foundation (ALS)
• The Gatesway Foundation
• Tristesse Center
• Clarehouse

Boxing royalty appearing at past events include:

Many TCFN boxing alumni have gone on to international boxing fame, including:

• Derrick "Smoke" Gainer - current World Boxing Association Featherweight Champion
• Kathy Collins - four-time World Champion and Current IBA Junior Welterweight Champion
• Cory Spinks - a top welterweight contender
• Hector Commacho, Jr. - WBC top-ranked Junior Welterweight
• Erik "Butterbean" Esch - "King of the Four Rounder"

Boxing personalities include:

• Bert Sugar, Boxing and Baseball Historian and Author
• Mark Beiro, Ring Announcer
• Al Berstein, Boxing Announcer
• Michael Buffer, Ring Announcer
• Angelo Dundee, Trainer
• Emanuel Steward, Trainer
• Joe Mesi
• Germain Taylor
• Hasim Rahman
• Lupe Contreras, Ring Announcer

Other Personalities:

• Michael Irvin, NFL Football Player (Dallas Cowboys)
• Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Dallas Cowboys and Professional Boxer
• Jim Lampley, HBO commentator
• George Wendt, Actor from "Cheers" fame
• Rocky Calmus, NFL Football Player (Indianapolis Colts)
• Dennis Rodman, former NBA Player
• Michael Buffer, Famed Ring Announcer
• Amber Valletta, Actress and Model
• Renaldo Wynn, NFL Football Player (Washington Redskins)
• William "The Refrigerator" Perry, 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears
• Tony Holden, Boxing Promoter, Holden Productions
• R.W. McQuarters, former Oklahoma State University football player and NFL Football Player (New York Giants)
• Pete Rose, former Major League Baseball player and manager
• Eddie Griffin, Actor and Comedian

Under the continued leadership of the Siegfrieds, "Black Tie" Boxing has a strong presence in the Tulsa community, and has become one of the most-anticipated black-tie events of the year.

** Multiple Beneficiary