By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tonight won't be the first time Arizona and Arizona State fans trade punches in the name of school pride, but it will be one of the few times they've done so legally.
UA and ASU students will square off tonight at 7:30 in the spring semester's "University Fight Night" at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix.
The event, which is a culmination of weeks of training by athletes from both schools, is a fund-raiser for numerous Arizona boxing programs.
In the main event, UA's Al Chavez will take on ASU's Steve Hannent in the 200-pound weight class.
Larry Lentz, ASU's coach and the fight's organizer, said the large venue might help the event, which is traditionally held in bar parking lots.
"It's the nicest venue in Phoenix," he said. "If we can get a midget or a girl to fight, we might draw more than 1,000 people. We're going to fill 10,000-seat arenas someday. "
Lentz said that four girls are prepared to fight tonight, but only two will actually square off due to weight limits and the interest of fairness.
"There could be two girls with the same weight but completely different skill levels," he said. "We don't want anyone getting killed in there."
Lentz, who went to UA but coaches the ASU team near his home in Phoenix, guaranteed a Sun Devil victory in memory of former ASU co-coach Kelly Cox, who died April 17 of a brain hemorrhage.
Cox, 30, worked alongside Lentz in bringing "Fight Night" to both Tucson and Phoenix.
"Kelly Cox gave his life to the sport of boxing," Lentz said. "It was a big loss for everyone. He was a real nice guy. We will win for coach Cox and for ASU."
Though Arizona has won every "Fight Night" since its inception in 1989, Lentz said next year's Tucson event might be canceled due to a lack of funding.
"Right now, we have no venue," he said. "I mean, this is a charity. I give all the money to local amateur boxing, to send kids to nationals. I had to turn people away in Phoenix. In Tucson, nobody wants to shell out $1,000 to sponsor the event."
Lentz said the event will be safe, with professional referees and the latest protective gear to help avoid any life-threatening injuries.
"The gloves are larger and everyone has cups, mouthguards and headgear," he said. "The girls even have chest protection."
