Fighting and philanthropy normally don’t go hand-in-hand but Sigma Phi Epsilon’s third annual Fight Night will change that.
The boxing event this Sunday will raise money for Sigma Phi Epsilon brother and Cal Poly student John Murphy who was severely injured last July after falling out the window of his fourth-story hotel room. Murphy sustained massive head trauma among other injuries and underwent six surgeries.
“John’s undergoing an extensive recovery process,” said Sigma Phi Epsilon president Casey Shadel. “We thought this was a good way to raise money and help with the medical expenses.”
For the past two years, the events raised money for Sigma Phi Epsilon’s national philanthropy, youth AIDS.
To garner sign ups, members of Sigma Phi Epsilon visited other fraternities and asked for brothers to sign up. Participants have been training for two months with SLO Kickboxing in order to learn how to box, since a substantial number of the fighters have no previous experience.
There will be approximately eight to 10 fights, though the numbers are subject to change. According to materials engineering sophomore and Sigma Phi Epsilon brother Alex Doyle, only about 30 percent of those who originally sign up end up participating due to the extensive training regime and time commitment.
Each fight will consist of three one and a half minute rounds. Though there will be no prizes; winners get “the gratitude of winning a one-on-one fight,” said Doyle.
Fight Night will take place at The Graduate in San Luis Obispo, which will be importing a boxing ring for the day. SLO Kickboxing employees will referee the event. All participants will be outfitted in headgear and clothes to minimize injuries.
Though some may think this event pits fraternities against each other, Casey says that’s not the case.
“It’s a really fun event,” he said. “It’s a sport, not really fighting, and actually brings all the greeks together to support one another together; everyone is really supportive of all the fighters.”
Doyle agreed. “It’s fun,” he said. “Every fighter gets their own walk-up song played by a DJ and there’s a raffle where you can win a 34 inch flat screen television, food, drinks.”
“It’s a great event to support John and his family,” Casey said. “He’s not only a member of the greek system, but a fellow Cal Poly student who has gone through a tragedy. Having 500 people stand behind him on a physical level, just seeing them all there would say so much.”
VIP tickets, which puts the observer eye-level of the ring, cost $25 and regular tickets are $10. The event will start at 2 p.m on Sunday.