By Louis Parry-Garnaud, Sports Deputy Editor
Eight weeks of intense training, more than 1,000 students dressed to impress at a packed-out arena and the all-important decision of choosing the perfect walkout song - it can only mean one thing: The Fighter is back in Bristol.
For some, fight night is a chance to test themselves in an unfamiliar sport. For others, it is the culmination of weeks of training, new friendships and a challenge that once might have seemed unthinkable.
The Fighter, Bristol's most established student fight night, brings together students from across the University of Bristol community, many with little or no previous boxing experience. Over the past eight weeks, participants have been learning the fundamentals of the sport and pushing themselves to their limits under the guidance of expert coaches, all in preparation for the event at the Prospect Building on 13 November.
Epigram visited one of the first training sessions to see first-hand how the aspiring boxers were preparing for the challenge ahead.
For second-year student Jack White, the decision to take part was about challenging himself, admitting that he wanted to ‘step outside my comfort zone and work on my fitness’. However, the reality of training has proved tougher than expected. He explained how participants were thrown into the deep end, with the relentless demands of working on the punchbag proving to be particularly challenging.
The physical challenge extends beyond the punchbag. Sparring has also given the 30 students a taste of the risks involved in boxing, with White highlighting how even training sessions can leave them feeling the effects.
Despite the challenges, the chance to compete in front of a crowd of supporters has given him plenty to look forward to, with some friends travelling down from Newcastle to watch him fight. No pressure!
Behind the event is a team working to ensure everything runs smoothly. Organiser Max Diment, who took part himself, described The Fighter as a highlight of his university life, and said he wanted to give others the same opportunity. Beyond the action in the ring, he hopes the event will bring students together and encourage more people to try out a new sport that they might never otherwise have considered.
The event attracts a varied group of participants, bringing together students of different ages, genders and societies. Max spoke about the positive impact it has on the student community: ‘It is a mixed bag of people that would never usually be together and never usually box - it is great to see them grow together.’
As the big night approaches, the focus shifts from the training gym to the bright lights of the Prospect Building, where the students will finally put their preparation to the test. The atmosphere promises to be a far cry from the gruelling sessions that have brought the fighters this far, with 1,500 fans expected to cheer them on, armed with homemade signs and banners in support of their friends.
Epigram will be there on fight night to capture all the action, atmosphere and behind-the-scenes stories from The Fighter as Bristol’s newest boxers step into the ring on the 13th of November.
Featured image: Epigram / Edward Wallace
