The Notre Dame Bengal Bouts Fight Poverty In Bangladesh

Sunday, February 13, marks the 81st year of the Bengal Bouts, a unique charity boxing tournament hosted by the Men's Boxing Club. The tournament is held annually at the University of Notre Dame, and proceeds benefit the Holy Cross Missions to help the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh.

Begun in 1920 by legendary football coach Knute Rockne to condition football players in the off-season, the tournament later expanded entry to any member of the student body. Beginning in 1931, the charity aspect of the event flourished under the guidance and direction of long-time boxing instructor, Dominic "Nappy" Napolitano, while following the Men's Boxing Club mantra: "Strong Bodies Fight, that Weak Bodies May Be Nourished."

In 2010, the Bengal Bouts helped generate a donation of $100,000 for the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh. Since the program's start, over $1 million has been donated.

The training regimen requires novice boxers to receive instruction and conditioning in the fall, while returning fighters begin their mandatory workouts during an intensive 6-week period prior to the tournament. The Men's Boxing Club membership includes over 230 students ranging from first-year undergraduate students to graduate and law school students, with participants fighting across 12 weight classes.

This year's tournament includes a real-life "Rocky" (or "Rudy" - take your pick) story: 55-year-old Terrence Rogers, a private investor from Lancaster, PA, and full-time Notre Dame grad student, is returning to the Bengal Bouts ring after 32 years. Rogers aims to avenge his 1979 title defeat.

This is more than two guys frantically flailing their arms, folks. This is good boxing. In fact, 3-time Bengal Bouts Champion Mike Lee, a light heavyweight, signed with Top Rank in 2009, and he currently holds a 3-0, 2 KO professional record. Lee's next bout is scheduled for Feb. 26, at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, and he continues to fight for the missions in Bangladesh that touched his heart when he visited in 2008.

Typically, the Bengal Bouts Finals are the largest student attended athletic event at Notre Dame, save for Football.

Tickets and merchandise can be purchased, and donations to the Holy Cross Bangladesh Mission can be made, at the official Bengal Bouts Web site: http://blogs.nd.edu/bengal-bouts/

NOTRE DAME BENGAL BOUTS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

Preliminaries: Sunday, February 13th- Joyce Center Fieldhouse - 1:00 pm ET

Quarterfinals: Tuesday, February 22nd – Joyce Center Fieldhouse - 5:00 pm ET

Semifinals: Tuesday, March 1st- Joyce Center Fieldhouse - 5:00 pm ET

Finals: Friday, March 4th- Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center - 7:00 pm ET