Fight Night Revisited – looking back on one of the biggest events of Durham’s social calendar 

With another round on the horizon, there’s no better time to celebrate Wilder Fight Night, one of Durham’s most exciting events. Taking place in the run up to the end of term, it provides the ultimate conclusion to an academic term full of summatives and stresses. But did it live up to the hype? This review will answer that ever pertinent question…

Venue

Fight night chose its venue well with the properly sized Sunderland Live Arena. This is a stones throw from Durham, easily reachable by either the provided coaches. It’s also within acceptable uber distance for those keen to speedrun back home. It contained an efficient entrance area, places to smoke, two decently stocked bars, loos, and two floors of spectator seating. All the essentials were in place.  

The main room was spacious, with the raised ring placed dead centre. This made the fights visible to all from many exciting angles, whether on the first or second floor. This allowed us to follow and wince along with the gripping fights, making the event that much more exciting. The area around the ring was also sizeable enough to contain all the necessary ring team crew, and perfectly connected to an imposing metal walkout stage and runway for all of the amazing fighters. This was essential for the event’s showmanship.

The seating was also comfortable. There was a good amount of seating upstairs and some great downstairs tables for personal supporters to cheer on braver buddies. 

Apart from a rush out at the end, there was a good amount of room for everyone. The event was as safely packed as it ought to be. The fighters themselves seemed to have ample room backstage to get ready for their big moments, making this venue an excellent choice.

Organisation

The Durham organisers for Wilder Fight Night were also largely effective in keeping the event moving. Security was smooth but thorough. The event’s structure was similarly well considered. Fights did not overrun too much, ensuring things stayed fresh. A welcome halfway break was also provided, allowing us to refill and recharge.

The food and drink provided also made for a nice supplement to all the emotionally drawing excitement of spectating. 

However, constant interruptions provided by the event organisers asking people to sit down were frustrating, and slowed the pace of the event. While this was a rare negative in a great night, it did become increasingly exasperating to hear, especially as the rationale behind it was a little unclear, with some standing through, many to understandably cheer on their friends at a closer position. Repeated refrains on the price of the seats seemed to be ineffective at changing this issue. Seemingly, this is a new issue, so it is one that can be avoided in future, and is in no way a dealbreaker on such a fun night. 

The lively crowds

The biggest appeal of the night, of course, was the fighting and the associated spectacle.

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The fights themselves were well-paced, mainly well-judged, and well-matched. Their brutal and thrilling nature are testament to the great boxing training provided by Wilder. Here, the night lived up to the hype. The hugs the fighters gave each other showed an honourable level of sportsmanship, without sacrificing the excitement of their rivalries. Waiting with bated breath for the judges to announce a close fight’s winner was a highlight we will remember.

As for the spectacle, this was a great enhancement to the night, and present in every inch of the arrangements. For one, the large metal stage made the perfect entrance for the fighters walkouts. It allowed everyone to clearly see the next entrants expansive and creative choreography, with them emerging ominously from the metal doorway to the backstage. The fighters’ pulse-pounding musical choices were also effectively blasted by a vivid and powerful audio and light system. Accompanying spectacular fiery light effects further enhanced the event’s cinematic nature.

Similarly, the sleek silver screens serving as the backdrop of the stage furthered the event’s atmosphere, displaying exciting imagery, the vibrant colours of the red and blue corners, and each fighter’s boxing name. This gave every individual fight its deserved entrance, lighting up the room with hype. The touch of playing the winners’ walkout anthem as their post-win celebration theme, alongside their nickname and colour emblazoned over these screens, was another great touch. Victory felt as exciting as it should. The interlude music was also well chosen, keeping the energy of the event going in between moments without being too much of a distraction.

The presenters

The announcers also brought a great level of enduring energy to the proceedings.

Their introduction to the event was a great example of this, clearly laying out most of the structure of the night while also being funny, cracking some amusing jokes about the presenter’s age and the drunken prospects of the night. They also amply hyped up the event itself. It also made sure to focus on the great cause that Wilder Fight Night is truly all about, its partnership with the OddBalls foundation to fight against testicular cancer.

Their stewardship over the entire night, save for the aforementioned standing up nuisance, was also great. They continued their well-rounded energy when announcing the halfway break and each individual fight, ensuring that the night never slowed down. In particular, their booming exhilaration when announcing the names of eacb battle’s fighters and winners made them all the more fun to watch. The tension in awaiting the announcement of each duel’s victor was as nerve wracking as it deserved to be.

The ring team were also a great addition. They frequently amped up the hype by singing along with the crowd, walking out dramatically with the fighters, and exciting viewers across the night. As well as this, they did well at their role of encouraging and taking care of the participants.

The black tie dress theme was also a delight, giving the whole event an exciting, official air. In my mind, it fits alongside a college ball in this way, a sure compliment.

Punching out

Clearly, Wilder Fight Night overwhelmingly delivered in both its core boxing appeal, as well as in its location and structure. This makes it a strong recommendation for any Durham student seeking to cap off their term in spectacular style. Whether as a player or a viewer, it’s worth getting involved when it returns in the upcoming Epiphany term. A night of such blood, bravado, and brawn is not one to be missed.

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