There’s something undeniably captivating about Brighton’s Wilder Fight Night, whether from nerves, pride and anticipation before each fight or the supportive audience atmosphere from friends.
As student journalists, we weren’t just spectating; accompanied with notepads and a slightly amateur recording setup, we were lucky enough to report and interview some significant people who make Fight Night what it is, including Executive Team members, some of whom have organised it since Round One in February 2024. Whilst Shiqin had previously been involved in Round Six, this was Issy’s first experience with the event. Our interviews uncovered information neither of us could have imagined. The night offered more than just boxing; it revealed community and culture.
We first spoke to Matthew E., who manages the Brighton & Hove Boxing Gym, where participating fighters train, and oversees WBC Cares UK events, which Wilder Events also helps to fundraise for alongside the Oddballs Foundation. He spoke about the team’s growth with student volunteers and coaches consistently returning – a strong testament to the event’s success and growth: “over the last couple of years, it’s become a real kind of entity”. The eight-week program and training have been “catered to students”, the team constantly “refining” its training plans, whilst also acknowledging that fighters are students managing full-time academia, many of whom are already in sports societies.
Since launching the event about two-and-a-half years ago, Wilder Fight Night Brighton has raised over £71,000 for the Oddballs Foundation and WBC Cares UK.
Kas L., a third-year student at Brighton, first participated during Round One and is now an Executive, highlighted for us what makes Brighton’s event particularly special. It’s a smaller venue and three or four events a year; this aspect allows people to learn “more intricate things,” like the 5k along the seafront.
For many students, Fight Night is the perfect opportunity to challenge their athleticism or simply try something new, as Kas did. “For whatever your reasons may be, when I signed up, I was actually going through a battle with my own mental health.” Fight Night provided an opportunity to “discipline” himself and improve his mental health.
If Fight Night itself isn’t up your alley, getting into boxing still might be. Keelan H., who first began boxing in Round Three, is now one of the coaches and continues training, joining the University of Brighton boxing society. We learnt that, like every other sport, one’s introduction to boxing doesn’t necessarily have to be a big deal like signing up for an event; it can simply be an opportunity to try something new. Like most students coming to university, he’d never boxed before and was sceptical about sparring at first. But, as he says, “the more you kind of get used to it,” “you can take a hit, and you can fight back”, and “your confidence grows as you do it.”
One of the most encouraging shifts within boxing that Matthew noted was the growing female community, and Fight Night reflects this change. Boxing, once seen as a predominantly male sport, with just one woman in Matthew’s boxing club when he joined 11 years ago, is evolving into a more inclusive space, with more women than men competing in this round, a first in Brighton. Women’s participation is more than a mere numerical increase; it has a broader impact on the boxing community. Matthew talked to us about how learning how to support women in boxing has also taught the team how best to support people in general during training.
Speaking to Connie, coaching for Fight Night and Brighton & Hove Boxing Gym, she commented on how “surreal” it is to see more women than men, especially as someone who has “been really into male-dominated sports from a very young age”. However, despite this, she explained to us that there remain “ingrained, deep cultural” limitations within boxing, and wants to be a role model to let women know that they don’t have to want to fight to start boxing; in truth, it’s just as important for confidence, empowerment, strength, and overall fitness – values that resonate across genders. It is exciting that Fight Night is helping to challenge outdated stereotypes about boxing and show people that it is much more about determination and athleticism.
Photos: Shiqin Ong
