In boxing, it's not easy to knock out your opponent.
For veterans returning from combat, it's even harder to knock out the problems they face every day.
"I think it's a forgotten sector of our society," says Valley native and former world champion Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini.
He knows a thing or two about knockouts.
His nephew and late father served and fought for our freedoms.
Which is why he's spent so much of his post-boxing life helping veterans with their fight.
"Our government doesn't take of them like they should," Mancini said. "So this is why we've got to bring the recognition to them and shine the light and give them their just due, and hopefully our government will step up."
Friday night marked the first 'fight night' Mancini has hosted in several years.
Through the years, it's been a way for him and his foundation to give back to the community that gave him so much.
This year, all the money raised will go to Veterans Outreach of Mahoning Valley.
"They're not going to be the same person when they come home," said retired Lieutenant Colonel Harold Hutzen. "There's an adjustment and it lasts forever...and they carry that with them always."
Mancini even brought a few of his fellow competitors to town, including fellow Valley native and former world champ Kelly Pavlik, Larry Holmes, and James 'Buster' Douglas. They say there's no one better than him to help call attention to the cause.
"We've been going through a lot of stuff, the world is kind of crazy right now and we need these guys that are struggling, coming back from overseas, they need help," said boxing legend Gerry Cooney.
And while boxing may be an individual sport , these legends came together to form a winning team - a winning team united to give our Valley's bravest a fighting chance.
Mancini tells 21 News he wants to make this an annual event, choosing a different cause each time.