St. Andrews Fight Night Packs a Punch

I’ve attended my fair share of events at St. Andrews. They are all more or less the same. If you see a bunch of well dressed, posh, drunken, students stumbling towards South Street, I could tell you how their night will go. They probably paid £50-100 (this was £70) They will line up for the bus at either Madras or Younger Hall (this queue was particularly extensive), drop by the champagne reception upon entering either Kinkell Byre, Fallside Mill, or Kinetteles (this time it was Kinkell). In this way Tuesday 18 March was an evening like any other. What I do not generally anticipate at these lofty gatherings is a punch to the jaw. 

Who doesn’t love to see someone they know get knocked in the face a few times? With everything on the line, the production is truly something to behold. Fragile egos displayed in front of hundreds of fellow students. All past, present, and potential flings, waiting to see if you’ll rise to the challenge or crumble under the pressure of the spotlight. I felt much safer outside the ring, not only because my chances of being struck in the face are far lower, but I also get to wear a shirt, and preserve a degree of egotism — as tonight I will not be losing in combat in front of all my peers. I commend them for getting in there. It could not be me. 

Amongst the packed lineup, Oliver Glen and Theo Marsigny’s fight stood out. Or better yet, OG Simpson and The Guillotine. Menacing names fellas, true cold blooded killers. A few haymakers landed going both ways. Back and forth until the final seconds when Marsigny landed two huge hooks, winning over the crowd and the judges, and declaring victory.    

The evening revolved around eleven fights, all of which were made up of students who had undergone rigorous training the last couple of months. The music set the stage perfectly. It sounded like the playlist I would’ve listened to when I was thirteen preparing for a middle school football (American) game to get myself pumped up. Maybe it was. It struck a youthful, energetic, and potentially violent chord, filling me with excitement to see some people have their jaws spun. Next, the walkouts. A group of overexcited, supportive, blind drunk friends, screaming at the top of their lungs for the star of the show. They acted as the entourage leading the fighter into the ring. At this point, ring girls and boys pranced down the arena, scantily dressed as they fired up the crowd. It worked. 

I have not watched very many boxing matches in my day and the ones I have were professional bouts. They make it look easy. I can assure you, these fighters did not. The fighters took aimless swings at each other's heads. The ducks were not strategic, but life preserving and panicked. I am not sure which I think is more entertaining. A very poorly played game of football hurts to watch. Fighting is still fighting, it's always good. My biggest complaint is the weighted gloves and helmets. If people are paying £70 to watch fights, let's see some knockouts. I saw one bloody nose, one, pathetic. 

The after-party started around midnight featuring Raincheck, a live band and two different BPM DJs back to back. Most events centred around a show typically lead to people clearing out just after the show wraps up. I was surprised to see everyone stay. Especially on a Tuesday. Perhaps the lingering post-fight energy was particularly captivating. Or maybe no one had signed up to 9ams. 

Speaking to one of the organisers, I was told that Fight Night is one of the few organizations which is for profit. Nothing sneaky, no hidden money trails, and no lined pockets with money meant for a mysterious charity who won’t see a dime. They are in the business of making some profit. As an American, I loved this, of course, but as a fellow student who thinks twice about buying olive oil, I was upset, and very resentful of their revenue generating endeavors. Due to the fact this event is for profit, and not for charity, it is not exclusive. In fact, we spoke about how they actively try and select fighters from different social groups and friend circles. Whether this is to have a more diverse group in attendance or to rake in more money for the event, it doesn't really matter. It is a rarity in this town. As for my ultimate takeaway, I really do hope to see some more fighting at future events. Makes for great entertainment.

Photo by Manraj Gill