RAISES OVER $500,000 TO HELP TREAT TYPE 1 & 2 DIABETES
ANTHONY ANDERSON HONORED WITH THE 2023 GOLDEN GLOVE AWARD
ACTION-PACKED
EVENING FEATURED FOUR GOLDEN BOY FIGHTS,
INCLUDING KAREEM HACKETT VS. CHRISTIAN THOMAS IN THE MAIN EVENT
Hi-Res, Downloadable Images Available HERE
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 24, 2023) - For the 12th year, B. Riley Securities presented the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation "Big Fighters, Big Cause" Charity Boxing Night on Wednesday, May 24 at The Beverly Hilton. Actor Chris Spencer hosted the exclusive star-studded event which featured first-class entertainment, a National Anthem performance by emerging pop/R&B singer Gabby Samone, four action-packed live fights presented by Golden Boy Promotions, and a live and silent auction display featuring iconic memorabilia and one-of-a-kind items and experiences.
The evening also honored Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominated actor Anthony Anderson with the 2023 Golden Glove Award, recognizing his commitment to raising awareness for diabetes. Anderson is an advocate for diabetes awareness and a spokesperson for the "Getting Real About Diabetes" campaign. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he is active in his community and a champion of the cause.
While accepting the award on stage, Anderson said, "Ray, thank you very much for giving me this honor. I appreciate what you and your lovely wife Bernadette have been doing for the last 12 years bringing awareness to pediatric diabetes. I'm a type 2 diabetic myself and I really appreciate that your Foundation is there to fight this disease for the children of our community."
The event raised over $500,000, with proceeds benefiting 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, Pierce Brosnan, Michael Buffer, Brooke Burke, Cedric the Entertainer, Tommy Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Oscar De La Hoya, LL Cool J, Johnny Gill, Mario Lopez, Sergio Mora, Sugar Shane Mosley, Rodney Peete, Craig Robinson, Holly Robinson Peete, Ali Siddiq, Chris Spencer, Mia St. John and David Winfield, among others.
The
live fights presented by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions featured a
six-round light heavyweight match. Kareem Hackett (11-0, 6 KOs) secured a
fifth-round knockout against Christian "Liger" Thomas (11-3, 9 KOs). In a
jaw-dropping four-round lightweight co-main event, Daniel "Ikaika" Luna (2-0, 2
KO) defeated Jonathan Teofilo (0-1-1) via second-round knockout. Also on the
card in a four-round super welterweight was Fabian Guzman (2-0, 2 KO) of
Orange, CA who defeated Rahiem Cooke (1-5) via second-round knockout. Opening
up the action was a four-round super bantamweight fight between Juan Carlos
Gonsales (2-0, 1 KO) of Los Angeles and Jonathan Tejeda (0-5) of Mexico City.
The fight also went the distance with judges scoring the bout unanimously in
favor of Gonsales with scores of 40-36, which started off the night of boxing
with all-out-action for the guest in attendance.
Nick Jonas' Villa One was the exclusive tequila sponsor of the evening. Guests were treated to Villa One's award-winning expressions of tequila in specialty craft cocktails including the "Sucker Punsche" made with Villa One Silver and "Fancy Footwork" made with Villa One Añejo. Guests also sipped on the tequila served neat - enjoying the unique flavor Villa One provides thanks to a blend of agave from the highland and lowland regions of Jalisco, Mexico. Villa One was served across all bars at the event as well as at the VIP Villa One Cocktail Bar.
The event took place during B. Riley Securities' 23rd Annual Institutional Investor Conference, a two-day premier investment and networking event which brings together public and private companies with institutional investors, high-net worth individuals, and corporate clients, as well as select members of the press. Conference attendees also joined the Charity Boxing Night.
About Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation
The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation was established in 2009 by boxing legend and six-time world champion Sugar Ray Leonard and his wife, Bernadette. The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation is committed to funding research and care for pediatric type 1 & 2 diabetes and creates awareness for both diseases. The Foundation also strives to help children live healthier lives through diet and exercise.
Type 1 diabetes strikes both children and adults at any age. It comes on suddenly, causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise, fueled largely by the obesity epidemic.
Leonard draws from his personal experience and boxing career to provide inspiration for funding research to combat the disease. For more information, visit www.sugarrayleonardfdn.org. Follow on Instagram at @sugarrayleonard, Twitter at @SugarRayLeonard and Facebook at @SugarRayLeonard6.
About Golden Boy
Los Angeles-based Golden Boy was established in 2002 by Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. Golden Boy is a media and entertainment brand committed to making fighting entertainment more accessible and affordable. The company's in-house production team develops creative original programming for RingTV.com and international channels across the globe. The company holds the exclusive rights to top boxers and has promoted some of the biggest and highest-grossing events in the history of the sport. Now, Golden Boy is one of the most successful boxing entertainment companies in the world and shapes the future of boxing for fighters and fans alike.
About B. Riley Securities
B. Riley Securities is a leading investment bank that provides a full suite of investment banking, corporate finance, advisory, research, and sales and trading services. Investment banking services include initial, secondary, and follow-on offerings, institutional private placements, merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory, SPACs, corporate restructuring, and recapitalization. The firm is nationally recognized and highly ranked for its proprietary small-cap equity research. B. Riley Securities is a wholly owned subsidiary of B. Riley Financial. For more information, visit brileysecurities.com.
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CONTACTS:
For Event Inquiries:
Caroline Stegner,
R&CPMK: caroline.stegner@rcpmk.com
Madison Thomas,
R&CPMK: madison.thomas@rcpmk.com
For Sugar Ray Leonard:
Jeff Raymond, R&CPMK:
jeff.raymond@rcpmk.com
Laura Potesta,
R&CPMK: laura.potesta@rcpmk.com
For Golden Boy:
Jane Murcia: jane@goldenboypromotions.com
For B. Riley Securities:
Jo Anne McCusker: press@brileyfin.com