Heavy Hitters: Meet the boys fighting at Durham’s Wilder Fight Night

Durham’s “most electric black tie sporting event” is back. Having raised over £300,000 across multiple university cities in the last academic year for The OddBalls Foundation Charity – its charity partner focused on raising awareness of testicular cancer and tackling the stigma – Wilder Events’ Student Fight Night returns to Durham on June 8th. We heard from some of Durham’s best – the fighters who have spent week after week intensely training for the biggest event of the term. So, let’s meet some of the boys that promise us a night of boxing and brilliance.

Harry ‘the hooligan’ Eckerstall vs George ‘the guillotine’ Gibbens

Harry, from Collingwood, studies Maths and is representing DU Rugby and Guzzlers & Co Rugby 7s team. Boxing is new to Harry, but he has fully embraced the challenge, and we have no doubt that he will excel on the night. Walking out to Major Lazer’s Light it Up, Harry will be joined by four of his friends and you can look forward to a backflip or two. On his opponent, Harry has “nothing” to say yet”, adding: “We’ll talk in the ring”.

Most Read

Bonnie Blue cancels her extreme ‘petting zoo’ event, and reveals its grim replacement

The best 20 unis in the UK right now, according to the new Complete University Guide

22-year-old who did vile stunt with Bonnie Blue says she’s ‘traumatised’ and needs therapy

George, a Geography student from Cuth’s, is representing his college men’s rugby society as well as DURFC. ‘A bit of peer pressure’ from his housemates and being apart of a ‘collective effort to get involved’ in such a good cause led George, whose walkout is based on an Inbetweeners skit, to Fight Night. Whilst you can expect ‘a bit of fun’ from George’s walkout, not taken ‘too seriously’, George is certainly serious about putting up a tough fight and wishes Harry ‘good luck – I think he’s going to need it’.

Donate to Harry here.

Donate to George here.

Manny ‘The Machine’ O’Lowe vs Felix ‘live wire’ Leckie

Representing DURFC, Emmanuel Olowe is a Collingwood student studying philosophy and theology. After doing judo for many years, Manny has decided to take on this challenge to test himself “in a striking martial art and see how [he] takes to it.”

The Durham Ambassador for the OddBalls Foundation Charity is also a first-team DURFC player, and he has made Manny realise how brilliant the charity is. Manny told The Tab Durham that he’d love to raise money for such an important cause that affects so many men. He will be walking out to Big For Your Boots with four of his best mates from his college, saying “this should be class. His message to Felix is: “Best of luck – you’ll need it.”

“Standout fighter” Felix is a third-year geography student from Collingwood who is representing his social rugby 7s team, Greenstock U7s. For Felix, Fight Night has been “the one thing that [he has] wanted to do since first year”. He decided to take the leap, apply for Round 11, and has no regrets. On his walkout, Felix told The Tab Durham to “think nostalgic”. He is excited, confident, and “ready” for one of the most anticipated fights of the evening.

Donate to Manny here.

Donate to Felix here.

Sam ‘the monster’ Metheringham vs Ahmed Latif

Sam, a Van Mildert student in sports and exercise science is representing Van Mildert Football as well as Van Mildert Darts. Sam, inspired by such an important cause, also gave us a quip about how he is mainly training to get back at his little brother who has “started to beat [him] up”. There are “no spoilers” for Sam’s walkout just yet, but much like Sam – ready to see his opponent after not seeing him at training for “so long” – we are excited to see it.

Ahmed is a computer science student from St John’s, representing St John’s College Boat Club. As someone whose family members have unfortunately experienced cancer, Ahmed told The Tab Durham that he really resonates with this cause.

For Ahmed, who has previous boxing experience, Fight Night proved a great opportunity to get back into the sport while raising money for such an important charity. His walkout is “a lot of fun” – he will be accompanied by his college parents and even some “cool” props. Ahmed has trained hard and can only hope that Sam has prepared as much as he has. Much like us, he is “looking forward to a great match!”

Donate to Sam here.

Donate to Ahmed here.

Matthew ‘bulletproof’ Barry vs Sam ‘no time to’ Dye

Sam is a philosophy student from Van Mildert College and the fighter who has “improved the most”. One of Sam’s coaches, Nick, praised his skill, dedication and hard work during training. Representing Van Mildert Football Club, its E team in particular, Sam joined Fight Night to embrace a new challenge before the end of the academic year.

Sam, who has thrived under the coaching, is saving us a cool and “classy” walkout for Sunday when he is ready to give his opponent “everything he’s got” in what promises to be one of the most exhilarating fights of the night. Sam will be fighting Matthew “bulletproof” Barry, who is representing Collingwood’s O team for football, and CCDC.

Donate to Matthew here.

Donate to Sam here. 

Will ‘the hobgoblin’ Hobden vs John ‘jawbreaker’ Cummins

John, a philosophy and theology student from Trevs is representing the college’s rugby club TCRFC. As a lover of combat sports like Muaythai, and a passionate fundraiser for the Oddballs foundation, a charity ‘very important’ to him, John is a perfect fit for Fight Night. John has had an “incredible experience” preparing for Fight Night, training in something he loves whilst raising both donations and awareness for an excellent cause.

Whilst John is yet to reveal his walkout song, he told The Tab Durham that it was “definitely on theme”. John is certainly giving us something to look forward to with a “visual gag” from his “two hype men” and his words for his opponent: “You’re a target”. John will be fighting Will “the hobgoblin” Hobden, who is representing Hatfield College Football.

Donate to Will here.

Donate to John here.

Ned ‘steel jaw’ Shaw vs Jaime ‘el leon’ Mendez de Vigo

Ned, representing DU Karate, is a Collingwood student in Spanish and Italian. He was drawn to Fight Night to fill his free time with a new challenge and “a bit of fun” during his final term at university. Walking out to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ Thrift Shop, potentially in a big fur coat, Ned is one you won’t want to miss. Ned will be fighting Jaime el leon Mendez de Vigo, who is representing St Cuthbert’s Society and DUHS.

Donate to Ned here.

Donate to Jaime here.

Matthew ‘greaves’ Lightning vs Joe ‘the claymore’ Moore

Matthew is a St Chads sports science student representing Chads Darts, Football, and Durham University Cricket Club. He decided to take part in Fight Night because it’s one of those things where, if you don’t do it, you’ll regret it in years to come. He told The Durham Tab that he had nothing to lose in signing up and taking part. Matthew has described his walkout as “simple and meaningful.” His message to Joe is “may the best bloke win.”

Representing both Trevelyan College MS and Trevelyan College UNT, Joe Moore is a final year business student from Trevs. When asked why he decided to do Fight Night, Joe told The Tab Durham: “I always fancied boxing and it’s taken me four years to finally land a spot. I actually only came in three weeks ago to make up numbers, so it’s been a massive challenge to get my boxing up to speed with everyone else.”

Joe doesn’t want to give too much away about his walkout, but told us he has been working hard on the outfit he will be wearing – “I’ve had to learn a few skills to get it ready for the big moment.” He says of his opponent Matthew: “Honestly, he seems like a nice guy. I’m hoping to start some beef ahead of time so I’ll feel less bad about breaking his nose. Really, my only issue with him is that he’s a cricketer, but having to play cricket is punishment enough.”

Donate to Matthew here.

Donate to Joe here.

Archie ‘the assassin’ Stokoe vs Andre ‘the maltese monster’ Micallef

Andre is a Collingwood student studying Finance. He will be representing Durham Hyrox and DU Karate Club. Andre was inspired to do Fight Night to support “an incredible cause”, push himself out of his comfort zone, and tackle a new challenge. Andre’s walkout is being kept under wraps for now, but it is certainly one to get excited for!

Andre has a lot of respect for his opponent Archie “the assassin Stokoe”, who is representing DU Tennis Club, saying it “takes real courage to leave a non-contact sport to get punched for charity…he knows how to swing from tennis…shame he won’t land a thing on the night”.

Donate to Archie here.

Donate to Andre here.

Nick Hands, a prolific and long-standing boxing coach involved in Fight Night’s many rounds, was brimming with commendation for this cohort of fighters, who he called “a pleasure to be around”. He praised their fitness, focus, and tireless dedication, spending each session “completely focused on their boxing” and a privilege to coach.

When asked about his standout fighters, Nick told The Tab Durham of his “most improved” fighter, Sam Dye as well as the “really big shift” put in by Manny and Felix, Round 11’s heavyweights. Having both done a lot of 1:1s, their fight promises to be one of the biggest, and most “exciting” of the night. Nick will be ringside for what he expects to be a night of exceptional and unpredictable fights – this week’s Fight Night is definitely one to look forward to and one you won’t want to miss!