Lasers criss-crossed the Hilton’s ballroom during its annual conversion to a Vegas boxing tournament.
What: 17th Annual Fight Night for Fight For Childen
Where: The Washington Hilton, converted into a Vegas boxing ring.
When: November 2, 6 p.m. to late
Who: All men. The city's powerful business elite, associates of founder Joe Robert, Jr.. The 2,000 guests ranged from Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuchese to power brokers like Howard Gutman and Terry McAuliffe to media figures like ABC's Terry Moran, as well as business titans like Jim Kimsey, Mitchell Rales, Raul Fernandez, Tom McMillen, and the night's chair, Chuck Kuhn, as well as local pols Robert Bobb, Adrian Fenty, and Michael Steele. Also present were the legends of sport like Jake "The Bronx Bull" LaMotta, Hector "Macho" Camacho, and Mario Andretti. Basically the only females present were the Redskins cheerleaders selling their calendar, Hooters Girls selling raffle tickets, and a cocktail waitress at each table.
Scene: Fight Night is what the rest of America imagines Washington is really like–lots of men in fancy tuxedos, smoking cigars, cradling bourbon and martinis, dining on steak, and greeting each other with backslaps. Emotional highlight of the evening was the presentation of the colors by a Marine Corps honor guard–Roberts' son is a Marine sergeant and Iraq veteran.
Entertainment: Motown legends The Temptations, laser light show (made possible thanks to the thick cigar smoke filling the room), boxing matches, and–a new addition for this year–a kickboxing match. In the evening's main bout, Junior Middleweigh Billy Lyell defeated Jerome Ellis in eight roungs for the Fight for Children title.
Food: Steak, naturally.
Beverages of Choice: Hennessey cognac; Maker's Mark bourbon, Redwood Creek wine.
Sign of Excess: Mitchell Rales bid $110,000 for a custom built motorcycle from Hardcore Choppers.
Gift Bag Contents: Fight Night t-shirt, cigar, mini-boxing glove, matches, and a U.S. flag lapel pin. Guests lucky enough to be seated with Zoo Director John Berry also received a stuffed baby tiger.
Fallout: Immediately after the event the hotel has to deploy scores of ionizers to soak up and remove the cigar odor.
Ratings:
Bold Face Guests: 3 (out of 5) Swankiness: 4 (out of 5) Food/Drinks: 4 (out of 5) Overall Exclusivity: 4 (out of 5)
Total Score: 15 (out of 20)
The Redskinettes opened the evening with a dance performance.
The Temptations’ set included their hit “My Girl.”
The Redskinettes autographed their 2007 calendar for anyone who wanted one.
The night’s main event went the full eight rounds.
Maryland Senate hopeful Michael Steele worked the crowd with his security detail hovering nearby.
A Night Out: The 17th Annual Fight Night
Washington's biggest boys' night out.
What: 17th Annual Fight Night for Fight For Childen
Where: The Washington Hilton, converted into a Vegas boxing ring.
When: November 2, 6 p.m. to late
Who: All men. The city's powerful business elite, associates of founder Joe Robert, Jr.. The 2,000 guests ranged from Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuchese to power brokers like Howard Gutman and Terry McAuliffe to media figures like ABC's Terry Moran, as well as business titans like Jim Kimsey, Mitchell Rales, Raul Fernandez, Tom McMillen, and the night's chair, Chuck Kuhn, as well as local pols Robert Bobb, Adrian Fenty, and Michael Steele. Also present were the legends of sport like Jake "The Bronx Bull" LaMotta, Hector "Macho" Camacho, and Mario Andretti. Basically the only females present were the Redskins cheerleaders selling their calendar, Hooters Girls selling raffle tickets, and a cocktail waitress at each table.
Scene: Fight Night is what the rest of America imagines Washington is really like–lots of men in fancy tuxedos, smoking cigars, cradling bourbon and martinis, dining on steak, and greeting each other with backslaps. Emotional highlight of the evening was the presentation of the colors by a Marine Corps honor guard–Roberts' son is a Marine sergeant and Iraq veteran.
Entertainment: Motown legends The Temptations, laser light show (made possible thanks to the thick cigar smoke filling the room), boxing matches, and–a new addition for this year–a kickboxing match. In the evening's main bout, Junior Middleweigh Billy Lyell defeated Jerome Ellis in eight roungs for the Fight for Children title.
Food: Steak, naturally.
Beverages of Choice: Hennessey cognac; Maker's Mark bourbon, Redwood Creek wine.
Sign of Excess: Mitchell Rales bid $110,000 for a custom built motorcycle from Hardcore Choppers.
Gift Bag Contents: Fight Night t-shirt, cigar, mini-boxing glove, matches, and a U.S. flag lapel pin. Guests lucky enough to be seated with Zoo Director John Berry also received a stuffed baby tiger.
Fallout: Immediately after the event the hotel has to deploy scores of ionizers to soak up and remove the cigar odor.
Ratings:
Bold Face Guests: 3 (out of 5)
Swankiness: 4 (out of 5)
Food/Drinks: 4 (out of 5)
Overall Exclusivity: 4 (out of 5)
Total Score: 15 (out of 20)
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Best of Washington 2023: Things to Eat, Drink, Do, and Know Right Now
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
PHOTOS: “Rupaul’s Drag Race” Queens Work It at the National Mall
Meet the NIH Detectives Cracking Medicine’s Toughest Cases
5 of DC’s Most Interesting Ideas for Revitalizing Chinatown
A “Corpse Flower” Is Currently in Bloom at the Botanic Garden
How Emma’s Torch Is Changing the Lives of Its Refugee Workers
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries
These 5 DC Traffic Cams Are Issuing the Most Tickets Right Now
Farewell to Crystal City Underground, the DC Area’s Strangest Mall