UC Boxing Club earns sole victory at Buckeye Brawl
Conner Mitchell Claims Fight of the Night as University of Cincinnati Boxing Club Navigates Tough Bouts in Columbus
University of Cincinnati Boxing Club fighter Conner Mitchell earned the event’s “Fight of the Night” award and secured the club’s sole victory at the Buckeye Brawl hosted by the Ohio State University Boxing Club on Oct. 24, 2026. Mitchell defeated Brock Bowling of Ohio State by split decision in a 170-pound bout that served as the final match of the event at Pilgers Old Skool Boxing Gym in Columbus, Ohio.
Split Decisions Test UC Fighters Across Weight Classes
While Mitchell delivered the team’s primary highlight, three other University of Cincinnati competitors dropped their matches by split decision. Fourth-year student Makan Sacko lost his 200-pound bout against an opponent from Miami University, marking his second official fight following the Bearcat Brawl in Cincinnati a week prior. Sophia Ahmadadeen competed in a 142-pound bout against Mikayla Gangadeen of Air Force Boxing, dropping a close decision after landing active combinations but battling fatigue. Team captain Michael Dempsey faced Vincent Rawls of the U.S. Naval Academy Boxing Club in a 193-pound match, falling short in a contest complicated by his opponent’s elusive head movement and limited recent sparring.
Coaching Staff Calls for Increased Conditioning and Gym Time
UC Boxing Club head coach Jeff Perry emphasized that the narrow margins in defeat should drive the squad toward heightened preparation. Perry stated that fighters aiming for the next level must dedicate more serious effort to conditioning and increase their gym frequency. The athletes themselves echoed those demands, with Sacko noting that fatigue is a mental hurdle and Dempsey pointing to the need for more frequent sparring sessions to shake off rust before upcoming competitions.
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