The Habad Children Aid Society put some punch into the finances of four Israeli charities with a boxing dinner at the Bloomsbury Big Top on Monday.
Around 350 supporters including LBC broadcaster Nick Ferrari watched a post-prandial four-bout programme headlined by Israeli light-welterweight Oz Goldenberg, who lost on points to Nigerian Ideh Ockuko.
Habad committee member and boxing promoter Robert Waterman praised Goldenberg for agreeing to box an opponent who had considerably exceeded the weight limit. "He would have been well within his rights to pull out but he didn't want to let a community charity down."
The sporting theme extended to an auction, conducted by former England cricket captain Chris Cowdrey. The most intense bidding was for a VIP trip to the Hungarian Formula 1 grand prix and a directors' box package at Old Trafford for the Arsenal game.
Bidders for the silent auction had the option of experiences such as corporate hospitality on Champion Hurdle day at the Cheltenham Festival.
Among beneficiaries of the £40,000-plus raised were children's cancer charity Zichron Menachem and the Forgotten People Fund, helping Ethiopian families living below the poverty line in Netanya.
The society's other charities are the Israel Sports Centre for the Disabled and Karmiel Children's Village.
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