Max Maguire, a 22-year-old film production student at Arts University Bournemouth, will be hosting and taking part in the event fundraising for Changes Are Made.
A total of 20 students will participate in matches at the Henry Brown Centre in West Howe on the evening of December 4.
AUB Student Fight Night (Image: Max Maguire)
Max said the idea stemmed from his interest in influencer and YouTube boxing matches.
“It’s beneficial to support the sport of boxing by bringing more eyes to it, but also it encourages people to have the confidence to it themselves one day,” he said.
Marc Smith and Max Maguire holding a belt to be awarded at the fight night (Image: Max Maguire)
Max approached Marc Smith, a boxing coach mentoring young people, in early October about wanting to host an event.
“I’m forever indebted to him because there was no way I could have pulled it off without him,” said Max.
Marc put the team in touch with the Henry Brown Centre, which hosts affordable boxing classes for young people as part of Changes Are Made (C.A.M).
Cameron Hamilton (Image: Family handout)
C.A.M was set up to campaign against knife crime after 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth town centre.
Max said they were originally going to support a national mental health charity but instead chose to help a local organisation.
AUB Student Fight Night (Image: Max Maguire)
“I met some of the kids [at the youth boxing] and they were so excited to be able to watch a boxing event for the first time. It encouraged me to want to support them.”
Max said there is ‘varying degrees of fitness’ among the participants, most of whom have not taken part in a boxing match before.
“I knew I was biting off a bit more than I could chew because I decided to not only organise the entire event single-handedly but also box someone,” said Max.
He added: “I’m feeling pretty confident.
“I’ve got a really great support network of friends and family who are coming to the event.”
The university students have funded the event themselves, but Max said the risk has paid off with the amount of support.
Max said they were also eager to promote inclusivity at the event, after it was mostly men signing up.
“There was a concern that the atmosphere might be hypermasculine and then it might become a bit of a boys club.
“We kept publishing the message of inclusivity, now have adaptive boxing and women on the undercard.”
The sold-out event will be documented by film students, with highlight reels later posted on AUB Student Fight Night social media platforms.
Tracy Jose, grandmother of Cameron Hamilton and founder of C.A.M, said: “Changes Are Made are thrilled Max and Marc’s AUB Event is happening at The Henry Brown Centre—home of C.A.M Club!
“C.A.M Club boxing and fitness has been running, every Wednesday, for a year now offering a safe and empowering space for young people between the ages of 8 – 16.
“It’s thanks to fundraising events like this, that we can keep going and carry on into the new year.
“We’re so grateful for the support in raising awareness of the dangers and possible life‑changing consequences of carrying a knife. It just shows – together Changes Are Made”