Kapow!

No, it’s not a campy episode of “Batman,” it’s the sound of the Sigma Alpha

Epsilon fraternity’s 15th annual boxing tournament held last weekend at the

Golden Gloves Arena in Chilhowee Park.

The tournament raised nearly $30,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association

and the Golden Gloves Charities. The total is $3,500 more than last year.

There are no cash incentives for the fighters, only trophies.

Spencer Clift, chairman of the 1995 boxing tournament, said there is a

fraternal pride element involved in the competition.

“It gets competition and rivalry going between the fraternities, and

competition makes fraternities better,” he said.

This year, 12 fraternities competed in the event, producing 47 boxers. Any

fraternity member can enter the contest if he can pass a physical

examination and attend four workouts at Golden Gloves Arena.

Owen Robertson, assistant chairman of the event, said the fighters train

for months in preparation for the tournament.

“By no means do people decide the night before to enter the tournament,”

Robertson said. “Also, these fighters are strictly amateurs. There are no

professionals involved.”

Ace Miller, head of Golden Gloves Arena, is instrumental in helping

fighters train, Clift said.

“Ace and the Golden Gloves staff really open their doors to these guys, and

the fighters do everything from punching a bag to jumping rope to sparring

in the ring,” he said.

This year, there were 11 weight classes ranging from 125 pounds to a super

heavyweight class over 200 pounds. Lambda Chi Alpha won the traveling team

trophy for having the most individual winners.

The tournament marks the first time in nearly ten years that the team

trophy has gone to a fraternity other than Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Mike Smith of Kappa Sigma won “best fighter of the tournament” while Ronnie

Johnston of Kappa Sigma was inducted into the SAE tournament hall of fame

for winning his weight class for three years.

More than 8,000 people attended the event over three nights.

Clift said this year’s tournament exceeded his expectations.

“This is such a positive event, especially in what it does for muscular

dystrophy,” Clift said. “It provides an outlet of recreation for UT

students and it raises money for some really good causes.”

Flamingos, which made a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association,

held post-fight parties each night of the weekend tournament this

year.