Meet the students ready to roll with the punches at Lincoln’s Wilder Fight Night 2025

The Wilder Student Fight Night has returned to Lincoln with 32 fighters raring to battle it out in the ring, on Saturday night.

We spoke to some of the boxers so you can decide who your favourites are for the big event this weekend.

Prez ‘Polish Power’ Zjawiony, 20

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Jan Blachowicz: Professional Polish mixed martial artist.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Probably drink a lot.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Working on cardio.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Drinking in the Ritz and then ending up back home.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Good luck and respect for taking the fight.

Harvie ‘The H’ Harrison, 20

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My dad.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Get absolutely leathered.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Just turning up not knowing everyone there, and a broken nose.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Pre drinks, then bar hopping (Trebles and Red Five) – then going to the club.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Good luck you will need it.

Harry ‘The Heartless Hitter’ Belk, 21

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Kobe Bryant.

How will you celebrate if you win?

I will get my friends to rush the ring and lift me up and then go out and party to celebrate, and all my friends from back home will celebrate and it will be good to see them.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

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My weight, because when I first showed up at training, I was 57kg and after training for two months I am now at a happy wight of 67kg which means I have gained a good 10kg over the time which didn’t only just shock me but also the coaches.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

So, start off in the flat/house, have a few beverages and play some card games – probably Mafia and Ring of Fire – and then hit the streets and head to either Trebles or Red Five and then have two or three drinks and then head to one of the clubs, which for me is usually Home.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

You better be ready because I’m coming for you and I’m going to come hard and fast, so you better watch out because the “Heartless Hitter” is about!

Justin ‘The Jester’ Torcato, 20

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Any inspirational superhero.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Straight to the club after a nice house party.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Running for cardio.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

A nice little pub crawl heading towards Bull.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Hoping for a good fight.

Macauley ‘Macca the Pakka’ Wilson, 18

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

For the fight ,my stepdad and brother, in general my nan as she does a lot for everyone.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Beer, beer and vodka.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

My cardio and having no faith that I would make it this far. Now that is am this far, I am very proud.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

I plan the most amazing night out, start with pres and can’t escape the flat.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Please don’t hurt me.

Angeline ‘The Angel’ Rwaka, 25

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My mum.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Having a night out with the people that came to watch me.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

I think it was more of like channelling more aggression while sparring so I can get a feel of the fight (even with my slight temper problem), I was struggling quite a bit.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Going out for a bar crawl or cocktails then heading out to the club or just hanging out at the game bar.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Let’s have fun and not get too hurt.

Gio ‘Guts’ Capano, 18

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My dad.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Spending time with friends and family.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Keeping up with training and fundraising.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Going somewhere fun with friends.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Good luck and I hope it is enjoyable for the both of us.

Emily ‘The Gem’ Gisborn, 21

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is the people who have battled testicular cancer. Fighting in the ring is one thing, but fighting something like that takes a whole different level of strength. That’s why raising money for OddBalls is my biggest motivator – I want to do my part to support the cause and spread awareness. I’m stepping into Wilder Fight Night not just for myself, but to fight for people battling this on an everyday basis.

How will you celebrate if you win?

My family are coming up to watch, so first and foremost, I just want to celebrate with them – something a bit more special, just spending some time together. On a more realistic note, there’s probably going to be a big night out win or lose. After all the training and hard work, it’ll be good to let loose and enjoy the moment properly.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

For me, the biggest challenge was throwing myself into training by heading to Thailand for 16 days to train in Muay Thai. The sessions were brutal – but it pushed me to a whole new level. Then, I ended up fighting in a reggae bar on Phi Phi Island, which was a night I will never forget. That whole experience toughened me up, both mentally and physically. Now, coming into Wilder Fight Night, I feel quite prepared.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

My ideal Lincoln night out starts the moment the fight’s done – straight to the Engine Shed bar for a well-earned pint with everyone who’s come to support me. After that, it’s into town to keep the celebrations going, heading to a few bars. To make it extra special for my friends and family who’ve come up, we’re getting a VIP table and a bottle at Home – proper way to celebrate all the hard work from the last few weeks.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

I just want to say that I respect how hard you’ve trained for this fight. It’s clear you’ve put in a lot of work. At the end of the day, we’re both fighting to raise money for charity. I’m really looking forward to the fight regardless of the outcome.

Raphael ‘The Black Fang’ Akinwande, 21

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Jesus, and my collective of family and friends.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Chilling with my mates.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Making it to the training sessions due to the fact I may have work or other commitments on that day.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Going on a pub crawl with some mates.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

It’s going to be a good one and good luck.

Harrison ‘The Skyscraper’ Scofield, 22

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Butterbean.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Celebrate with my brother in my corner, then see my girlfriend and Lacrosse team for drinks the rest of the night.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Fitting everything in with my usual schedule.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Good luck.

Joe ‘The Hitman’ Mcmillan, 18

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

Mike Tyson.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Heavily.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Not over training.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

To a bar with some friends for some drinks and food, maybe moving to a club afterwards.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Let’s make it a good and entertaining fight.

Tegan Suree, 22

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration has to be my parents, hardest working people I know.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Going out with all my friends which I’m looking forward to.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Picking up a new skill.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Go around the bars, head into Home and then end the night obviously in Scene.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Good luck let’s have a good fight.

Nathan ‘The Sniper’ Wickramasinghe, 18

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My brother.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Getting absolutely plastered with friends and family.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Despite sparring before, getting over the nerves before an actual fight has been challenging. Also, saying no to nights out and not drinking has been tough.

What’s your ideal Lincoln night out?

Doing pres at someone’s house, having a laugh and then going to the club.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Good luck and no matter who wins, we both trained hard and raised money to help beat the real opponent, cancer.

Joshua ‘The Huntsman’ Katsukunya, 18

Who’s your biggest inspiration?

My family, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Joshua.

How will you celebrate if you win?

Spend the rest of the night out with my flatmates and other uni mates and family members.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in preparation for your fight?

Definitely staying consistent to a training plan and self-confidence. There have been days leading up to the fight night where I did not want to train but did it anyways and I’ve enjoyed every single day preparing myself for February 22nd. With self-confidence, it was difficult at times to actually believe in myself; to think I have the ability to improve in this sport, but every now and again I had managed to prove myself wrong which was a great confidence booster.

What would you like to say to your opponent ahead of the fight?

Best of luck, let’s make it a fight to remember.