Ritz

Prior to the boxing match, a choir from the San Miguel School sang “God Bless America” and a Marine Corps color guard presented the flag for the national anthem.

Performers from Al Embry Entertainment played pop hits before the program and boxing began.

A laser light show kicked off the evening’s program at around 9 p.m.

The Commodores performed classics like “Brick House.”

Redskin cheerleaders danced to Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls).”

The evening’s program included a “Legends of Boxing” segment honoring past champions.

Fight for Children founder Joseph E. Robert Jr., who is battling cancer, thanked sponsors and guests for their contributions over the years.

A custom chopper went for $75,000 in a live auction, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting an education fund for the children of fallen soldiers.

Atmosphere washed the ballroom in patriotic, star-patterned lighting.

All tables were topped with a box of cigars, and the evening's menu included a steak dinner followed by apple pie.

Giant letters spelling out “Fight Night” dressed up the Washington Hilton ballroom.

Redskins cheerleaders walked through the crowd signing calendars.

A boxing match served as the evening’s main entertainment.

Models tallied up the rounds during the Fight Night boxing match.

Take-home gifts included a boxing-glove key chain and, of course, cigars.

At the Knock Out Abuse gala, models wearing nautical striped boating shirts and khakis pointed the way to the Saint-Tropez-themed event.

The dining room decor consisted of all different shades of beachy blues, echoing the Mediterranean.

André Wells topped tables with tropical flowers and sequined teal fabric.

As guests entered the ballroom for dinner, LED light dancers from Cast of Thousands performed onstage.

Shirtless male models in swimsuits showed some skin during the reception and the program.

Honorees during the program included Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown (pictured) and former prosecutor and bestselling novelist Linda Fairstein.

During the after-party, DJ Donna D’Cruz got guests dancing and even doing the limbo to Top 40 hits and Saint-Tropez club tunes.

Scantily clad burlesque dancers performed on platforms throughout the ballroom space at the Ritz-Carlton.

Doug E. Fresh engaged the crowd during the after-party at the Ritz.

Mayor Vincent Grey hit the dance floor during the after-party.

Rapper MC Hammer served as the headliner for Fight Night performing hits like "You Can't Touch This" and "Too Legit to Quit".

Models dressed up in military fatigues, combined with helicopter sounds and dark-green lighting, drew attention to the center ring during the live auction for the bidding of the Academi training package.

The skirt of one of the body-painted models served double-duty as a red carpeted entrance to Fight Night.

Models in body-painted dresses stood on platforms throughout the Fight Night reception space.

Redskins cheerleaders lined the entryway from the reception to the ballroom.

Liquor sponsor Bombay Sapphire made frosted cocktail shots in the Golden Glove lounge during the reception by mixing its product with lime juice, mint, and a dash of liquid nitrogen.

To accommodate the nearly 1,600 guests as well as the V.I.P. lounge, the ballroom included a mix of table rounds—seating 12 this year instead of 10—and rectangular high boys, maximizing the available square footage.

A 50-foot LED banner strip suspended above the Fight Night boxing ring scrolled through sponsor names throughout the night as well as announced the entertainment or boxing round underway.

Top sponsors seated ringside started their meals with a tower of sushi, sashimi, and shrimp cocktail.

Organizers themed each of the boxing matches with recognizable dueling duos via custom-made Under Armour boxing trunks brandishing the symbols of Batman vs. Superman, Democrats vs. Republicans, and Wonder Woman vs. Catwoman.

Silk aerialists performed at different corners of the ballroom in tandem with a video DJ as guests entered the main ballroom for dinner and the night's program.

Rather than a traditional plated salad, the Washington Hilton's catering team set each table with an array of antipasti served family-style including white bean salad, Italian meats, cheese, olives, and peppers.

The Washington Redskins cheerleaders danced to "It's Raining Men" for Fight Night's nearly all-male crowd.

Tampa-based speed painter Tim Decker created two paintings, one of boxing legend Mohammad Ali and another of the Statue of Liberty, in less than 10 minutes for Fight Night's live auction.

A cigar roller from BnB Tobacco rolled new product throughout the night from the V.I.P. lounge inside the ballroom.

The boxing ring changed to the main stage for a 30-minute set from headliner John Legend.

Event designer André Wells tailored the decor for Knock Out Abuse's gala to both the theme and attendees by using a soft, feminine color palette of gold, cream, pearl, blush, and ivory as well as sparkling elements via candles, crystal, and sequins.

Singer Eric Benét performed at the joint after-party at the Ritz Carlton. During the auction, guests could bid on a ladies' luncheon with the singer, which fetched $31,000.

Flower arrangements of roses, orchids, carnations, stock, and ranunculus added touches of color mostly white and gold decor at Knock Out Abuse.

Fight Night, which features live boxing matches, is trying to raise a record fund-raising total this year.

André Wells created an entryway to the event space reminiscent of the Moulin Rouge's signature windmill and red signage.

Amaryllis topped the dinner tables at Knock Out Abuse with centerpieces of black plumes and deep red roses.

DC Rental provided black satin linens for the dinner tables at the Ritz-Carlton.

Former model Carré Otis served as the keynote speaker for the Knock Out Abuse dinner.

Hargrove created a regulation boxing ring, surrounded by table seating for 1,800 guests, in the middle of the Washington Hilton ballroom for Fight Night.

Washington Redskins cheerleaders performed for the Fight Night crowd.

Actor Michael B. Jordan attended the event along with his castmates of the new boxing movie Creed, the latest installment of the Rocky series.

Svedka has hosted events with giant lawn games. "Incorporating any nostalgic elements [into events] is to further grow brand loyalty and to establish Svedka as a lifestyle brand that is fun and cheeky," said the brand's PR rep Meryl Van Meter.

At the 2014 New York Auto Show, BMF Media Group built a custom arcade and brought in '90s rapper Biz Markie. "The auto show draws dealership owners and salespeople from all over then country, and this was a huge home run for them," said BMF co-founder Bruce Starr.

BMF also wrangled Flava Flav for a 2014 flavor launch party for beverage brand Bai. The musician posed with guests at a photo activation that, according to Starr, inspired plenty of social media traction.

Chicago company Groupon uses nostalgic games—such as Twister—to bond employees at its annual summertime outing.

The outing took over a section of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood the day before it opened for a public festival. The event kicked off at 4 p.m. on a Friday, and a private bus transported guests from Groupon's headquarters.

For a an element of corporate social responsibility, employees helped create a college-theme mural for students at the nearby Jenner Academy of the Arts. Some employees opted to draw their own high school insignias or mascots.

Imaginative games included "human foosball," in which lines of employees looped together by string played a soccer-like game. Participants wore Groupon-branded headbands.

The event also included a giant beer-pong tournament with Groupon-branded ping-pong balls.

In one area, employees stepped into massive spheres to compete against one another at "Hamster Ball Racing."

Guests played giant Jenga at one activity station.

Employees played a classic summertime game in an area referred to as "Cornhole Campus."

A talent show featured Groupon employees demonstrating their musical skills.

A photo activation captured guests jumping in front of a backdrop that featured iconic Chicago images, such as deep-dish pizza and Wrigley Field.