It was a great fight weekend in Vegas.
It was a weekend where so many legends were in town for the Canelo-Khan fight and just speaking to them you felt like you were getting an education in boxing.
There is no one bigger at dropping boxing knowledge than Bernard Hopkins and he was doing that while also giving back at this amazing event. Here are more details.
Canelo Alvarez might have won the fight against Amir Khan last night in Las Vegas, but it was boxing living legend Bernard Hopkins who is the real winner of the weekend. Friday night, Smile Design Gallery (SDG) and Golden Boy Promotions partner Bernard Hopkins teamed up with Dr. Lee Gause as they hosted THE ART OF BOXING event within the Ling Ling Lounge at Hakkasan in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The intimate charity event celebrated Hopkins’ commitment to provide health care to the boxing community as notable guests including Leon Spinks (American former boxer), Roy Jones Jr. (professional boxer/commentator/trainer), Mustafa Muhammad (former professional boxer/current boxing trainer), Jim Lampley (HBO commentator, Sportscaster), and Kevin Kelley (former professional boxer/WBC featherweight title holder) attended in support of Smile Design Gallery’s mission. Along with the art pieces displayed for purchase, a live auction took place where 100 percent of all proceeds raised will be matched in free dental care for uninsured boxers, trainers and professionals in the boxing community.
Smile Design Gallery (SDG) was founded by Dr. Lee Gause in 2013, and is a mission-based charity that uses art sales to fund free dental care for individuals being rehabilitated from homelessness, as well as low income children and seniors. SDG builds relationships with up-and-coming / renowned artists and established galleries, in which 100% of the money raised from art sales is matched in free dental care for uninsured patients. In the three years since inception, SDG has provided $518,253.50 worth of dental care to over 500 patients.
It was so amazing to check out all this artwork while talking to boxing legends about the sport. It was an evening I’ll never forget.
Photo credit: Isaac Brekken