TNFs Perform Nightlife TKO

Posted by lushlife

Posted: October 10, 2008 - 9:42 am

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* NOTE: I wanted to add a quick sentence about the final fight, which I didn't mention in the column -- that fight, of all the fights that night, was the money fight. The one we paid for. I found myself, inexplicably, jumping up and cheering and that, dear readers, is what I meant by the fights being darn good entertainment. When it's a match framed with skill, determination and finesse, it's fascinating to watch. Although, A friend of mine thought I was slightly negative regarding the difficulty of fighting and the skill required -- and, maybe I was. Tell me what you think, Anchorage. And share your night-at-the-fight stories below.

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Thursday Night Fights have begun at Egan Center, and to celebrate I attended the inaugural bout with friends.

My first tip? Don't fall for the "private table" ticket option. General admission runs $12.50, and it's the best bet. Private table tickets go for the are-you-kidding-me? sum of $30, but when we arrived, I realized that nearly half the tables were empty and welcoming to anyone's general admission-bearing rear end once the fights began.

So it pays to go GA.

There are plenty of other ways to spend money. Well drinks at the stocked bars lining the back wall run $7.50, draft beers are $6.75 (with Coronas an unfathomable 50 cents extra) and wine by the glass is $6.25. Or get a photo with a "ring girl" for a mere $10. That's only one-third the price of a table seat and one-sixth the price of a ringside chair! To convince you, the ring girls were milling about in revealing dresses and really, really high-heeled shoes. However, I could have shot a photo of one of them with my camera phone for free.

The $60 price for ringside seats suddenly became clear as dozens of digital cameras shot out and flashed as the first girl sashayed around the ring before the first round, with nude undertights (at least, I hope they were Spanx) showing under her short skirt.

Finally, the fights began, the first involving more running around and arm-waving than actual boxing. To be honest, I was sort of hoping for a more "Fight Club" night and possibly some Brad Pitt lookalikes. Not so much. There weren't even any knockouts at first. I kept expecting someone to fly to the mat, face first, but each match just ... ended. And the judges decided the winner based on points or something.

The group of guys with me started discussing technique and analyzing how much better they would be than the poor saps in the ring, comparing jabs, footwork, basic smack-talking skills and bandying about words such as "pathetic" and "are you kidding me?" But they were loving it the entire time they critiqued it. It reminded me and my girlfriends of watching "American Idol" or "Project Runway." I realized I was judging the fights with an entirely untrained eye.

So I talked to Lucas Flowers from Daniel's Boxing School (1080 W. Fireweed Lane, 929-5200), who has been participating in the fights for a year and watching for the past eight. "I love it," Flowers said. Actually, he gushed. You could see it on his face.

And it's not just him: Daniel's gym had about 50 guys fight last season and plans to have the same number or more participating this year.

Maybe I am missing something -- something intrinsic, human and amazing -- in the simple act of squaring off mano-a-mano against another person. I'll admit, I'm not a boxer. I know next to nothing about boxing, in fact. I also know next to nothing about being a ring girl.

I've never done it and can only imagine what it must be like to confidently perform every week in front of ogling, frenzied fans. So I have to give props to all the people in the ring. It may not be continuously, mind-bogglingly impressive; it may not even be watchable for the faint of heart or stomach. But it can be great entertainment with friends, and that's a good nightlife option in my book.

Find more information including the season calendar, fight lineup, contact information and ring girl information at www.thursdaynightfights.com. And if you go, don't forget your ticket stub. Bring it for free admission to Chilkoot Charlie's after the fight and get a chance to meet the night's fighters and ring girls in the flesh.

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