Jeff Perry, head coach of the University of Cincinnati Boxing Club, trains with Payton Woodruff, the club’s vice president, during the Bearcat Brawl on Oct. 17, 2026, at Cincinnati Fitness & Boxing.
Hajra Munir | Editor-in-Chief
The sound of punches landing, coaches shouting instructions and spectators cheering filled Cincinnati Fitness & Boxing on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The gym, in combination with the University of Cincinnati Boxing Club hosted its annual Bearcat Brawl.
The event featured 18 bouts between boxers representing UC, Army West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Ohio State Boxing Club, Miami University, Crandall University and Cincinnati Fitness and Boxing.
UC finished the event with five victories and two losses across seven bouts, according to the official results.
Pressure was palpable as each fighter prepared to enter the ring.
At the back of the gym, UC Boxing Club head coach Jeff Perry worked one-on-one with third-year UC student and vice president of the club Payton Woodruff, helping to prepare him for his upcoming bout.
Throughout the competition, Perry’s voice carried from the corner of the ring as he shouted instructions and encouragement to his boxers. His presence remained a constant as UC fighters faced opponents from across the country.
Woodruff defeated Crandall University’s Eduardo Ortiz, who traveled from New Brunswick, Canada, by unanimous decision in the 135-pound bout. The victory marked Woodruff’s 22nd consecutive win, improving his record to 23-1. Despite the victory, Woodruff said there were areas of his performance he wanted to improve.
“I plan to train a lot more legs because my legs kind of gave out this fight, and just want to work more on cardio mainly,” Woodruff said.
Perry echoed that assessment, emphasizing his expectations for Woodruff as he continues developing as a boxer.
“He wins, but he’s winning a lot of fights on points. [Its] time for him to start really showing that confidence, take it to the next level,” Perry said.
Drawing on experience from previous fights, Conner Mitchell, a third-year student, also secured a unanimous decision victory against Air Force Boxing’s Brock Buak in the 165-pound bout. “I was a lot calmer than my last fights,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell credited his preparation and the support of his teammates, including UC boxing alum Ryan Schumaker, who helped him prepare through sparring sessions leading up to the event.
Another notable victory came from club member Sophia Ahmadadeen, the fourth-year student who defeated Army West Point’s Lula Barber by split decision in the 145-pound bout.
The competition also marked Ahmadadeen’s first official fight.
Ahmadadeen said she had been training on and off for about a year, including four months of consistent preparation leading up to the Bearcat Brawl.
“I really wanted to have fun,” Ahmadadeen said, reflecting on her mindset before stepping into the ring.
For Ahmadadeen, the support she received from her teammates, friends and coach helped her navigate the pressure of competing for the first time. “You think that it’s just you in the ring, but you’re really not alone,” Ahmadadeen said.
UC’s Brendan Laux, a second-year student and club member, also earned a unanimous decision victory against the Ohio State Boxing Club’s Jessiah Brown in the 156-pound bout.
Eddris Tabler, a second-year student and club member in the heavyweight division, closed out the competition with a victory over Army West Point’s Jon Mathis by referee stoppage.
UC saw two losses during the event. The first came from Brevin Bourquin, a third-year student and club member in the 175-lbs division, who dropped his bout against Air Force Boxing opponent Joshua Gibb by split decision.
Makan Sacko, a fourth-year student in the 195-lbs division, earned the team’s second loss in his first ever official match, falling to Air Force Boxing’s Bryce Spiller by unanimous decision.
With another competition scheduled for Oct. 24 in Columbus, several UC boxers are already looking ahead to their next opportunities in the ring.
Woodruff said he plans to focus on improving his conditioning and leg endurance, while Mitchell hopes to build on the composure he demonstrated during the Bearcat Brawl.
Woodruff and Anthony DiAngelo, a fourth-year student and president of the UC Boxing Club, are scheduled to compete in New York on Nov. 23. The bout will mark DiAngelo’s first fight of the season as he returns from injury.
It will also be his first time fighting in his hometown as a member of the UC Boxing Club.
For the UC Boxing Club, the event offered an opportunity to compete against other collegiate programs while showcasing the preparation and support behind each fighter’s performance.