There is a rising...

Ready for the ring: O'Brien, Matt Cyrs, Lorenzo Jordan, and John Swift

... force at Steds. Quietly and patiently, this force has been gathering strength, and it is now ready to be unleashed. This force is none other than the Steds Bengal Bout boxers who have been honing their skills since the late fall. At the helm of directing the Hall's boxing efforts is Steds sophomore, Dan O'Brien, who is no stranger to the ring. Last year, as a freshman, O'Brien made it all the way to the semi-finals, losing in a split decision. While he may have lost, O'Brien's resolve is stronger than ever, and he'll be back in the ring in two weeks time. And he's managed to get a large number of fellow Stedsmen to join him. In between class and practice, I was able to catch up with O'Brien and ask him a few questions. 

St. Ed: What have you been doing to prepare yourself for this year’s Bengal Bouts?

O’Brien: In addition to attending all practices and sparring captains and seniors as often as possible, I have adopted a strict pilates regimen and have begun dabbling in hot yoga.

St. Ed: Now, you have also been assisting a sizable number of Steds boxers in their training. Why do we have so many boxers this year, and how are they shaping up? 

O’Brien: This year, in addition to the triumphant return of all Stedsmen who fought last year, a significant number of freshman committed to the program. The first year of any combat sport requires turning a significant amount of information and technique into reflexes and muscle memory. The first year boxers have been showing significant progress in this area for the same reason they committed in the first place: a willingness to sweat, suffer, and fundraise.

St. Ed: As you train yourself and have others under your tutelage, do you find inspiration from other boxers and do they influence your boxing style?

O’Brien: Absolutely. Every boxer, regardless of experience level, should treat every drill and workout as an opportunity to add more weapons to their arsenal. I can confidently say that I have learned as much from our new boxers as they have learned from me. 

St. Ed: Has the recent extreme cold weather affected your training routine?

O’Brien: It has only made my normal routine more unpleasant... The weather will change before I do. 

St. Ed: What are you looking forward to after you win your Bengal Bouts’ weight class?

O’Brien: First and foremost I would like to thank my third-grade bully Simon Mayhew for imparting me with the necessary discipline and aggression to become a champion. If I were to be privileged enough to win a championship fight this year, I look forward to a crisp handshake from Fr. Ralph and a double order of spicy nuggets and mozzarella sticks from Ed's.

Good luck to Dan and all of our Steds Bengal Bouts boxers!