Seconds out...round three!

Back in 2008 a tentative new team on CRN – nervous and excited in equal measures – announced an intention to launch a black-tie boxing event for the channel.

Fast forward to 2010 and CRN Fight Night is now in its third year and is proving more popular than ever.

Due to take place on 27 May 2010 at The Brewery in Chiswell Street, London, this year’s event will again have 18 fighters and nine bouts, due to the continuing huge level of interest we have had from the industry.

Launched at the Channel Awards in November, over 90 potential fighters initially signed up for an assessment, and more than 50 of those are due to turn up for a proper assessment at The Ring boxing club in London this week and next.

This lucky 50 will be put through their paces by a team of boxing experts, before being whittled down and matched up into our final 18. Stay tuned to ChannelWeb for the first reveal of the Fight Night warriors in the coming weeks.

Exciting night

CRN publisher Mark Burton, said: “Fight Night has rapidly become established as a key date in the channel calendar. The whole industry is talking about it. Judging by some of the companies looking to fight this year, it should certainly be an exciting night, and hopefully will raise even more money than before for well-deserving charities.”

Last year’s Fight Night event was a surefire winner, with an excited crowd of over 400 people and thousands of pounds raised for various charities. Revellers partied until the early hours at the after-show party at the Bedouin Bar in London and the headaches felt by the CRN team alone rivalled that post Channel Awards feeling.

In the words of some of our heroes from Fight Night 2009, those that are selected for this year’s event are in for a treat.

Jon ‘Hurricane’ Hook, from DWA Media, said: “It was a great experience. I would 100 per cent recommend it to anybody. While it is fun, you must take it seriously and realise that it is a fight night and is physically challenging. It is all too easy to get starry eyed at the beginning, but never forget the work that you need to put into it.”

Bobby ‘Gypsy King’ Cole from Comstor, whose bout was so closely fought it was declared a draw, said: “The experience was a whirlwind of emotions and large doses of adrenaline. I would recommend it to anyone, but you have to have a lot of dedication. It is something I will take with me for ever."

Up for auction

As with the 2009 event there will also be a charity auction on the night to help boost the amount raised for charity.

CRN is very keen to receive any auction prize donations that could get people digging deep. All prize donors will receive a worthy mention in the Fight Night programme to thank them for their generosity.

The type of prizes we have had in the past include concert tickets, hampers, corporate hospitality days, hotel breaks, spa breaks, and sports match tickets and have helped raise thousands in extra cash for the chosen charities.

For more information on how to donate a prize or to book a table for CRN Fight Night 2010 contact CRN Events Manager Nathalie Perez on Nathalie.Perez@incisivemedia.com.