Cambridge pulls no punches in ‘massive’ Varsity win
“Each and every following fight was absolutely electric with individual stories and personal heroics in the ring from bell to bell. I have never been prouder of a team”
The ‘electric’ Varsity amateur boxing tournament has seen St John’s medic William Tan help lead the Cambridge club to historic victory against Oxford.
Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club captain Will and his squad had a ‘massive win’ in the 114th Varsity held in their Dark Blue rival’s home turf of Oxford on Friday 10 March.
The fourth-year medical student said: “The final score was 6-3 to Cambridge, which is all the more impressive for each and every Cambridge fighter who stepped into the ring against a roaring hostile crowd of more than 700 Oxford supporters in their own town hall.
“The final score included three technical knockouts stoppages inflicted by Cambridge."
Will opened the men’s fighting with a third round stoppage by technical knockout after stopping his opponent five times. “As captain, it was my privilege to make the nine-man and three-woman squad and achieve a personal win with a technical knockout in my own fight, and an overall win for Cambridge.
“Each and every following fight was absolutely electric with individual stories and personal heroics in the ring from bell to bell. I have never been prouder of a team. It was one of the best of moments of my life ever to lift the trophy as captain in the ring at the end of the night,” said Will.
After three years of cancelled boxing Varsities due to Covid, Will said this was ‘a particularly emotional win for our club’ that breaks the deadlock of 55-55, to advantage Cambridge 58-56.
As one of the original nine Full Blue Sports in Cambridge, the return of Varsity boxing and its competitive rivalry has been highly anticipated at both universities.
Will added: ”I owe a lot to St John’s for its help over the years of boxing through the Beard and Blues Fund, which helped fund my subscription fees to the club and costs of fight kit. Additionally, the personal support of the Master and her family through general communication and The Eagles and Flamingos Club has meant a lot to me – they even came to watch and support my fight at the Town vs Gown show earlier this year.”
Will is currently looking after the Truelove Bowl at St John’s before he returns it to Hawks, the University’s sports club for elite athletes. The Truelove Bowl has been contested since 1897 in the amateur boxing Varsity tournament, which is the oldest continuous amateur boxing fixture in the world.
Published: 31/3/23