Good Sons (And Daughters) Turn Out For '12 Fight Night Kick Off Reception

All photographs by Ben Droz for REVAMP.com.

NORTHWEST -- As the World Boxing Association’s lightweight champion from 1982 to 1984, Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini fought some vicious battles in the ring with his trademark whirlwind fighting style.

Yet the now retired American boxer took on a particularly daunting opponent last week, as he joined nonprofit Fight For Children in advocating for low-income Washington children to ensure that they stay healthy and receive a great education.

Indeed, ‘Boom Boom’ was but one of many notable guests who streamed inside the picturesque Embassy of Italy on Thursday night, for the official kick off reception to this year’s famed ‘Fight Night’ fundraiser to be held at the Washington Hilton on November 1st.

The evening served a dual purpose, however, in also screening the Washington, D.C. movie adaptation of author Mark Kriegel’s biography about Mancini, titled The Good Son: The Life of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, co-produced by longtime Washingtonian business and philanthropic leaders Chris Tavlarides and Jimmy Lynn.

Joining the prize fighter and bestselling author at the party were Fight For Children Chairman Raul Fernandez and Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, among dozens of other smartly attired guests.

The evening began with a stimulating Fight Night-style reception, complete with newly-rolled Pucho cigars, before the start of the movie. Everyone was then invited to a laughter-laden reception afterward which afforded them the chance to casually talk with the guests of honor.

Round two, of course, in this year’s Fight For Children will come at the beginning of November.