One of Jackson's most unusual fundraisers is getting ready for its 10th year. Michele Hughey of the STAR Center, along with Erik Klasa and Clint Collins of the Jackson Fight Club, joined WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News' midday show Tuesday to preview Black Tie and Boxing.
The event pairs a formal charity gala with live fights. According to event organizers, the evening opens with a cocktail hour and a black-tie dinner, and guests watch a series of sanctioned MMA and kickboxing matches during dinner. Money raised benefits the STAR Center, which provides education, employment and independence services for people with disabilities in West Tennessee.
Hughey said the support helps the STAR Center keep providing care that allows people with disabilities to reach their full potential.
The Fight Club is a volunteer group of local residents who agree to train and raise money for the cause. According to the event's organizers, Fight Club members train for about three months before getting the chance to compete at the event, and along the way they meet STAR Center clients and learn more about the nonprofit's work. Klasa and Collins are both members of this year's group. Organizers said the 2026 Fight Club raised $16,257 for the STAR Center, and the 2024 group set a record with $30,970.
This year's Black Tie and Boxing will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the fights begin at 6:30 p.m.
Organizers say reserved tables are already sold out. General admission tickets are $50 and provide balcony seating; they are non-refundable. Tickets and fundraising pages for individual Fight Club members are available through the STAR Center's Black Tie and Boxing event page.
Raw 100.5 wishes the Fight Club members well as they train for the big night.
Sources: WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News; The STAR Center; Black Tie and Boxing Jackson organizers