"Fight to Educate" a knockout success

It was a black-tie, black-and-blue-eye night on April 12 as the University's Varsity Club hosted the second annual "Fight to Educate" at Matthews Arena, pitting Team USA against Canada in a series of international bouts.

Televised live on the New England Sports Network (NESN), the event was a tremendous success, drawing more than 600 spectators and raising over $35,000. The money will go toward scholarships for financially needy students in the Boston area who qualify for admission to Northeastern University.

In the main event of the evening, 20-year-old Bridgewater State College sophomore Peter McNeeley won the heavyweight bout by unanimous decision over Canadian Wayne Bernard to clinch a victory for Team USA. It was McNeeley's first taste of international competition and he performed impressively against the experienced Bernard, who had won the Maritime Heavyweight title in 1988.

The night was a true "family affair" for the McNeeley clan. Peter's father Tom McNeeley Jr., a former Top 10 contender who once fought Floyd Patterson for the World Heavyweight Championship, provided color commentary for the NESN telecast which was produced by Peter's older brother, Tom McNeeley III.

This story ran on page 1 of the Northeastern University News in June 1989