B. Riley & Co. and the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation co-hosted on May 20 the 5th Annual “Big Fighters, Big Cause” Charity Boxing Night at the Santa Monica Pier, which benefited the Foundation’s mission to raise funds for research and awareness towards a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.
“The Voice” Season 6 winning-coach Usher and legendary boxers including Mike Tyson, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Thomas Hearns, and more gathered at the world-renowned pier to show their support for the cause.
The evening included a three-bout PROAM fight card commissioned by the California State Athletic Commission and USA Boxing, as well as a live auction and silent auction.
Just after winning his first coaching victory on “The Voice,” Usher drove straight to the event at the Santa Monica Pier on his Ducati motorcycle to join Sugar Ray Leonard. Usher will be playing Sugar Ray Leonard in the Roberto Duran biopic “Hands of Stone.”
Boxing greats Mike Tyson, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, and Leonard’s former boxing rival Thomas “Hitman” Hearns all gathered to show their support for Sugar Ray Leonard and his foundation. On the red carpet, de la Hoya jokingly called it a “family reunion.”
Attendees included: Host Sugar Ray Leonard, Usher (Recording Artist), Anthony Anderson (Grudge Match), Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine 2), David James Elliott (Actor), Jake Steinfeld (Actor), Johnny Gill (Recording Artist), Jessica Canseco (Hollywood Exes), Keenen Ivory Wayans (Last Comic Standing), Mia St. John (Boxer), Mike Tyson (Boxer), Nicole Murphy (Hollywood Exes), Oscar De La Hoya (Boxer), Sergio Mora (Boxer), Shane Mosley (Boxer), Shane Mosley Jr. (Boxer), Terry Norris (Boxer), Thomas “Hitman” Hearns (Boxer), Tommy Chong (Actor/Comedian), and Tommy Davidson (Actor/Comedian).
Fight card results:
Main Event: Charles Martin (WINNER) versus Rafael Pedro, Heavyweight – 10 rounds, Martin knocked out Pedro in the fourth round.
Undercard: Luis Grajeda (WINNER) versus Said el Harrak, Junior Middleweight – 8 Rounds, Grajeda won in an eight-round split decision.
Undercard: Vyacheslav “Slava” Shabranskyy (WINNER) versus Paul Vasquez, Light Heavyweight – 8 Rounds, Shabranskyy declared winner after first round.
