Last week in Mexico City it was announced that Hublot and the World Boxing Council will host a one-time event in Las Vegas this coming September that will unite some of the greatest boxing champions.  No, not to fight in the ring, but to raise money for charity.  For the occasion, Hublot has crafted 12 unique pieces; each of which commemorates one of the greatest boxers to grace the ring, including Lennox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Harns, Roberto Duran, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Jeff Fenech, and Larry Holmes.   Noticeably absent from the list is Muhammed Ali — but then again we know that he is an IWC man — the very cool looking IWC Big Pilot’s “Muhammad Ali” watch recently sold for $60,000 for charity.  The 12 unique “King Power World Boxing Council” pieces are modeled after the iconic championship belt awarded to the boxing legends. The auction winners will have the privilege of receiving their watch from the fighter themselves at the Las Vegas event — a great chance to meet one of boxing’s all time greats!  All proceeds from the sale of each watch will go to support the charitable initiatives of the World Boxing Council including the retired boxer’s pension and emergency funds in over 40 countries around the world.

Hublot King Power WBC (World Boxing Council) Watch

limited edition 12 pieces — to be auctioned in September 2012 –commemorating:

Lennox Lewis, Julio Cesar Chavez, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Harns, Roberto Duran, Oscar de la Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Jeff Fenech, and Larry Holmes

Boxing Legend Lennox Lewis, Unknown , Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver, and WBC CEO Jose Sulaimán Hanging Out, along with the new Hublot King Power WBC Watch

Hublot’s Jean-Claude Biver, Boxing Legend Julio César Chávez and WBC CEO Jose Sulaimán Show off the new Hublot King Power WBC Watch

On another note — you may have noticed by now that there seems rarely to be a sport or team or special event that Hublot has not jumped into to sponsor with one of its limited edition watches.  While Hublot and the man who built it up (Jean-Claude Biver) are often ridiculed or groused about for this approach, i.e. making nothing but “limited edition” one-off watches, I think that this criticism is somewhat shortsighted.  Often lost in the grousing is that fact that Hublot usually pairs its sponsorships and limited edition pieces with charitable causes — which is more than many watch brands can say.  Still, it is an interesting and unusual strategy and I can not think of another brand that lives by so many “limited edition” watches (often nothing more than a dial or color change). But no denying that Hublot does have a winning formula on its hands.