We spoke to the fighters in the Bengal Bouts

“Strong bodies fight so that weak bodies may be nourished.”

This slogan belongs to arguably one of the most unique clubs on campus: the men’s boxing club Bengal Bouts. When most people hear the word boxing, they think Rocky Balboa, Muhammed Ali, and Ronda Rousey.  As a Notre Dame student, I think Bengal Bouts.

Going into its 86th year, the Bengal Bouts was started by Knute Rockne in 1920 as an activity for football players to participate in during the off-season. Since then, it has evolved into a nationally televised event in which the men of the University of Notre Dame fight to raise money to support the Holy Cross missions in Bangladesh.

The money raised by Bengal Bouts has built schools, paid teachers, provided lunches, and so much more for the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The Tab sat down with a few of these boxers, managers and coaches last week to get their take on what they’ve been up to, in order to bring this entire event together.

Senior Maggie ‘Currahee’ Adams, Manager, IT Management

What is your role as a manager?

As a manager, I enjoy working on the back end of the Bouts to make it happen. I have also been on the front end in the ring, fighting. But it is amazing to be on the back end, being able to help make something happen that has been going on for 86 years, all supporting this one cause and the fighters that get in the ring to stand up for it. It has given me the opportunity to participate more fully in the boxing program here at Notre Dame that I care so much about.

Senior Sean Himel, Captain, Science-Business

What is your favorite Bengal Bouts memory?

I definitely have to say one is every day when one of our coaches would talk to us after practice. Tom Suddes, who now can’t coach anymore because he has ALS, has been a part of the program for 50 years and the motivating talks he gave us were always special. He made you feel like you could move mountains and always connected everything back to the mission.

What do you think separates Bengal Bouts from other clubs on campus?

A coach and I were talking about this the other day and kind of got a working model of an onion. The first layer is individualistic. You’re pushing yourself to the limit, no matter what, you got to just keep moving and working. The next layer is the team aspect. You all train together just to prepare to fight one another, yet everyone is so supportive. The center of it is the mission. Everything is about trying to make that impact so early in life. Its unique how it combines all three, and the skills prepare you for later on in life.

So, you went to Bangladesh and actually got to volunteer at the missions that all of this is for. Tell us about that.

I started to think about going to Bangladesh my freshman year. The captains kept saying apply, apply. My sophomore year I decided to give it a shot.

Going was a whole different experience. It was the greatest summer of my life, getting to experience the love from the priests and the missionaries.

Before you go, you get kind of an idea of what you’re going into. You think, ‘this is going to be so hard.’ You expect the people to be weak and underfed, but I went and the people were so happy and so much has been done for them by bringing them an education. You go in knowing that those eight weeks when you’re there isn’t going to make the biggest difference in the world, but that you are there to help out in whatever ways you can and to learn as much as you can to bring it back and inspire more people with the mission.

We arrived and had to wait a few days to acclimate, and then we took a bus to the northern hub. It was actually super funny because there was a bus strike so we had to wait several more days, and then we did get a bus, what would normally be a three-hour car ride took 11 hours! It was cool though because part of the journey they let us ride motorcycles.

The kids were so much fun. They came up to us and would sing and dance. They loved soccer! They were so obsessed with Argentina and Brazil, it was hilarious. We were there during the World Cup and they would get so excited. The afternoons were definitely my biggest joy every day, when we taught like a high school level class. It was really hard at first because they didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak Bengala but it worked pretty well in the end. It was such an amazing experience, and it was definitely super emotional at the end. There was so much love there, from the people and from the priests. It just reminded me everything that the mission was for.

Jab or hook?

Jab for days.

Liam ‘Trooper’ Chan, Senior, IT Management

How man years have you participated and what has kept you coming back?

This season is my third and really what keeps me coming back is that strong sense of mission that the club and the Notre Dame community have for the missions in Bangladesh. The Notre Dame community is so supportive.

For example, although unrelated to the club, Father George Rozum, rector of Alumni Hall, has been donating collections from Alumni Hall mass to the missions in Bangladesh. The fact of the matter is that this is a mission that goes beyond boxing, it is about a higher calling.

What is your favorite Bengal Bouts memory?

Shit, Sunday when I won my fight. Victory!

Hook or jab?

Jab. ABSOLUTELY jab.

Pump up song?

“Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins as well as inspirational Dragonball Z videos

Lorenzo ‘On Call’ Cabrera, Junior, Civil Engineering

How many years have you participated– and if more than one, what has had you continue to come back?

This was my first year, but what will make me come back next year is that combination of service and athletics. It is always about more than just the boxing, it is always bigger than yourself.

What is your favorite Bengal Bouts memory?

We did a drill where we had two teams and we had to carry our teammates across the field as a relay race. It just kind of ignited that first brotherly bond, being competitive. The guys you fight are on your team. It was like a metaphor, putting your teammates on your back. You’re fighting for them, fighting for the people in Bangladesh. You are responsible for their weight on your shoulders.

What do you think separates Bengal Bouts from other clubs on campus?

Definitely the service at the heart of it. I don’t know many other clubs that have such a strong all-encompassing call to service as Bengal Bouts. Also the courage it takes to join. Boxing isn’t something easy to pick up, it isn’t something you can pick up for selfish reasons. It takes a lot of sacrifice.

Jab or hook?

Jab. Jab keeps you alive.

Pump up song?

“Thunderstruck” by ACDC

Austin ‘The Sleeper’ Cartier, Junior, Aerospace Engineering

How many years have you participated– and if more than one, what has had you continue to come back?

This is my third year, and the work ethic required and the pure fun of it all to be honest.

What do you think separates Bengal Bouts from other clubs on campus?

Definitely the fact that it’s all for charity. It’s not for personal glory, I guess.

You train for one big event for over four months, during the coldest and darkest part of the year. What keeps you going on those days when you don’t want to anymore?

Knowing that I’m not just benefitting myself, that there are needy kids who are benefitting much more than I am.

Jab or hook?

Hook. Apparently, I have a pretty mean hook.

Pump up song?

“Til I Collapse” by Eminem

Zack ‘Bedrock’ Flint—Captain, Senior, Finance and English

How many years have you participated– and if more than one, what has had you continue to come back?

I have been doing it since my freshman year, but I was abroad last spring in London, so only three years. Freshman year I lost in the semis and got so close to finals that I thought if I could work a little harder then I could get there next year.

What is your favorite Bengal Bouts memory?

I want to say winning my weight class sophomore year. But actually, the best memory I have was after I lost freshman year when one of my buddies who had watched all of my fights and cheered me on, snuck a couple of beers into the JACC. We got drunk and watched the rest of the fights and so even though I lost it gave me a new perspective.

What do you think separates Bengal Bouts from other clubs on campus?

I think there is a huge reservoir of people who have done it. You have a different kind of resonance than clubs like SIBC. The program really hasn’t changed since the last generation. When you say ‘I did Bengal Bouts’ the reaction that you get from fellow alums says it all. It has been cool meeting alumni from all walks of life hearing incredible stories. It’s fascinating, the school being so dynamic and having this remain a constant all this time.

Jab or hook?

I’m a hook guy.

Pump up song?

“Run through the Jungle” by Credence Clearwater Revival

Senior Jason ‘Downtown’ Ellinwood—President and Captain, Economics and ACMS

What first brought you to Bengal Bouts?

I really thought it was unique that a university had a boxing program for students. I thought I’d give it a try and quickly fell in love with the boxing aspect and then the mission and then the program as a whole.

What is your favorite Bengal Bouts memory?

Probably walking into Purcell Pavilion for my first finals night my freshman year. It was just a really cool environment and atmosphere. It was never something I expected to be doing.

You train for one big event for over four months, during the coldest and darkest part of the year. What keeps you going on those days when you don’t want to anymore?

Like I said, definitely the mission here. We tell the guys a lot, half of us are done after 3 minutes and 45 seconds. After prelims, half the club is done. So if you are only in it to box and compete, then you’re never going to make it. You have to find something else, and for a lot of people I think that is the mission.

How does it feel, at the end of it all, knowing you made a difference?

It feels great. Its kind of interesting to contrast my prior two years in the program. My first year in the club, I won the personal championship for my weight class. Last year I lost in the finals, but it was a spectacular fundraising year. We raised over $100,000. That season was so much more gratifying even though I lost.

What has being a captain, and now co-president taught you?

I think it has given me a huge amount of respect for anyone who trains and chooses to compete with us. Having done it for three years and seeing a lot of guys participate in the past, there is a lot of intimidation and a lot to overcome. I have huge respect for the men of this program who train all winter and come give it all in the ring for whatever reason, just in the name of the mission and supporting one another.

Jab or hook?

Jab.

Pump up song?

Oh, I’m going to be cliché and say “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

If you want to donate to this awesome mission, you can do so here.