Military Academies to Face Off in Inaugural NYC Boxing Classic

The gala, scheduled for November 14 at The Léman Ballroom, features 12 bouts involving teams from West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, The Citadel, and the Virginia Military Institute. Beyond the matches, the evening includes appearances by boxing icons Ray Mercer and Micky Ward, alongside a VIP reception for alumni and donors.

Caracal Products & Services, which is co-sponsoring the fundraiser, views the partnership as an investment in character development. Charles Ellis, a VMI alumnus and board chair at Caracal, noted that the ring provides a unique environment for building grit. CEO Don Roberts echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the lessons learned through collegiate boxing—showing up, absorbing pressure, and persisting—directly translate to the professional standards required in the modern workforce.