Imperial Fight Night was a knockout

On 5th February, Imperial’s student fighters stepped into the ring at the Clapham Grand for the university’s inaugural event of this kind. It turned out to be something that felt far more theatrical than a typical student event.

The venue is one of the few surviving Victorian entertainment venues in London, opened in 1900, and built during the peak of Britain’s music hall era. Today, it remains a Grade II listed building, recognised for its cultural significance. One could tell. The Grand’s balconies and stage lighting with a full-sized raised ring gave the evening an unmistakable atmosphere that felt beyond just the modern day.

The dress code was black tie, and all of the crowd took it seriously with suits, bow ties, and dresses filling the hall. The crowd had clearly embraced the spectacle and was taking it very seriously. What struck me most was how seriously the fighters had taken their preparation, and the event was being taken. To be quite frank, I would never have expected such an attitude toward boxing at Imperial College. Many had been training twice a week for several weeks leading up to the event, fitting sparring sessions around lectures and other demands. By the time the first walkouts began, the mood had shifted from beyond novelty.

I ended up leaving before the event fully hit its peak later in the evening, but I have since had a chance to speak to some of the fighters, namely Jeffery, Jed, A, and Gerry, from the night.

What made you put your name down in the first place?
Jeffery: “It’s new to me, and I like challenges.”

Did you fully know what you were signing up for?
Jed: “The preparation for the event was as I expected, enjoyable and intense sessions were run twice a week to prepare fighters. The event itself was much better than I first anticipated: the venue was amazing, and the atmosphere was surreal.”

Were you nervous on the day, or did it not hit you until later?
Jeffery: “Wasn't nervous – just felt it was my preparation concluding and now was the test.”

What was going through your head during the walk-on?
Jed: “The walkout was the best part of the night for me. It was incredible to hear the crowd singing along to the music, and it put me in a great mindset for the fight. However, I was also very nervous knowing I was about to step into the ring in front of a big crowd for the first time.”

When the first bell went, what did it feel like?
A: “It was a one-time opportunity, and win or lose, I just wanted to try my best.
was kind of worried if I had the stamina to last the three rounds. My opponent is quite a lot taller than me, so I mentally prepared for him to throw a lot of jabs and use his range. As soon as the bell went, I remember he hit me with this huge right hook immediately. I realised this was going to be a total brawl, so I had to adjust and kind of throw my entire strategy out the window. It was such a fun experience: really glad I was able to take part. I lost on decision in the end, but it was a really great fight.”

Was there a moment where you had to push through more than you expected?
Jeffery: “Was pretty tired in the third round and despite my opponent being hurt and my coach shouting ‘finish him’ in the corner, I didn't want to because I knew I was up by points already.”

Did the fight go the way you imagined it would?
Jed: “Leading up to the event, I knew the fight would be extremely close. I landed some powerful headshots and kept my technique for the majority of the fight, but my opponent caught me off guard by throwing powerful body shots that were hard to avoid. This ultimately resulted in my loss, but the fight was enjoyable, and I have no regrets. Well done to my opponent!”

How are you feeling about it now, a few days on? Would you do it again?
Gerry: “I really enjoyed it, and it's tempted me to take up boxing in the future. I'd definitely do it again. As a master's student who just moved to London in September, I don't really have much going on outside of college here, so it was great to have something else to do. It does take up a lot of your time though, but I think it's worth it.”