Manchester Charity Boxing Night returns for 11th year after raising £750,000 for newborn intensive care

AI Insights

Manchester Charity Boxing Night returns for 11th year after raising £750,000 for newborn intensive care

Godel joins Manchester business community in supporting annual event inspired by the loss of 12-day-old Soffia Rose.

Charity Boxing Nights will return to Manchester on October 3 for its 11th year, bringing together 16 first-time fighters and around 500 guests after raising approximately £750,000 since the event was founded in 2015.

Manchester-based technology company Godel will once again support the black-tie event at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, continuing a decade-long relationship with a fundraising initiative born from one family’s experience of newborn intensive care.

The annual event was founded by performance coach and boxing trainer Ric Moylan following the death of his 12-day-old niece, Soffia Rose, in 2015.

After complications during childbirth, Soffia received specialist care from the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Saint Mary’s Hospital before sadly passing away. During that experience, Ric made a commitment to support babies, families and neonatal teams facing similar circumstances.

Eleven years later, that commitment has grown into an established annual Manchester fundraising event, bringing together the city’s business community while raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charitable causes.

Ric Moylan, founder of Charity Boxing Nights, said: “This has always been about Soffia and giving something back to the people who cared for her and our family during an incredibly difficult time. Eleven years later, that purpose hasn’t changed. Every fighter who steps into the ring and everyone who supports the event is helping babies and families going through experiences no family expects to face.

“The fighters put themselves through an enormous challenge, but ultimately we’re fighting to support these little babies who are fighting from the second that they’re born. That’s what this night is about.”

Funds raised through Charity Boxing Nights have delivered tangible support for neonatal care in Manchester, including helping to fund specialist equipment for Saint Mary’s Hospital. This includes a BabyLeo incubator for the hospital’s NICU, supporting the care of critically ill and premature babies.

All 16 fighters taking part this year are complete beginners who have never boxed competitively before. Following an intensive training programme led by Ric and his team, each will step into the ring for three two-minute rounds.

Ric spent 10 years as part of team Ricky Hatton, has trained 10 world champions and alongside his MSc studying boxing and combat sports, brings elite-level boxing and performance experience to those taking part.

Godel’s relationship with Charity Boxing Nights dates back a decade. The company’s CEO stepped into the ring in 2016, while its former CFO took on the challenge in 2024, creating a long-standing connection between Godel and the fundraising initiative.

Charity Boxing Nights has become something very special to Manchester because of the purpose behind it. For more than a decade, Ric has transformed an incredibly difficult experience for his family into something that continues to make a difference. Stepping into the ring requires real commitment, but everyone taking part knows there is a much bigger reason behind the challenge. We’re proud to continue supporting an event that brings Manchester together for babies, families and the remarkable neonatal teams caring for them. Gareth Ainsworth, CEO, Godel

Charity Boxing Nights has become something very special to Manchester because of the purpose behind it. For more than a decade, Ric has transformed an incredibly difficult experience for his family into something that continues to make a difference. Stepping into the ring requires real commitment, but everyone taking part knows there is a much bigger reason behind the challenge. We’re proud to continue supporting an event that brings Manchester together for babies, families and the remarkable neonatal teams caring for them.

Now in its 11th year, Charity Boxing Nights continues the commitment Ric made in 2015, bringing Manchester together to support babies and families experiencing newborn intensive care.

Charity Boxing Nights 2026 takes place on Saturday 3 October at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel.

Posted 30 Sep 2026