In their 96 years on campus, the Bengal Bouts have cultivated a strong culture that makes their group one of the most well-known extracurriculars at Notre Dame. The Bengal Bouts is a men’s organization that comes together to teach, train and develop boxing skills that are then displayed in their annual tournament. The focus of the group is not just boxing, but also fundraising for Holy Cross missions in Bangladesh, and it hosts a beloved campus event that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Catholic missions. Two junior captains sat down to speak about their experiences in the club, explaining its success and the foundational strengths that have kept the Bouts prominent for almost a hundred years.
A junior from Houston, Texas, Jackson Amorosa is a chemical engineering student living in Duncan Hall. For the Bouts, he is a workout captain and designs workouts and training exercises in collaboration with the strength coordinator. He is crucial to the physical fitness and operation of the boxing aspect of the club, and his skills help him develop the talents of boxers with varying levels of fitness and experience.
Currently a resident of Coyle Hall, William Johnson is an environmental science student from Scottsdale, Ariz. He is one of three fundraising captains who work with the club’s members to achieve philanthropic goals. His duties consist of totaling, rewarding the section or pod of the club that raises the most money each week and developing methods for the club to continuously raise funds. Their goal this year is to earn $350,000, and although the donations are still piling in as the 96th annual tournament is underway, Johnson was pleased with the club’s progress as the second semester began.
The leadership efforts from the two have been outstanding throughout the season, but both spoke on what led them to the Bengal Bouts. Like many, Amorosa was a dedicated, high-achieving athlete in high school who wasn’t competing in college but wanted to stay fit and active. He joined the club in his freshman year and enjoyed the camaraderie and community aspect.
“Participating in the tournament freshman year,” Amorosa said. “The nerves and excitement are unreal, and you don’t really experience it anywhere else.”
Johnson had a similar story. He joined his freshman year with a cross-country and tennis background before college. He was inspired by the people from his high school who constantly tried new sports and did things outside of the box. Coming from mostly non-contact sports, he explained that boxing was a different mentality that really challenged him.
Their sister club, the Baraka Bouts, has a similar tournament in the fall semester to raise funds for their organization of choice, which is a success every year. But in the spring semester, the buzz is all about the Bengal Bouts. Hundreds of people gather in the Dahnke Ballroom over various days to watch qualifying rounds of the tournament and even showcase competitions. Amorosa spoke of the unbelievable support they witness each year from the Notre Dame community.
“The support from dorms, community at fight nights, lots of people in [the boxer’s] corner, [it’s] a very special feeling that makes it all worth it,” he said. “The students really show out, and every year, everything increases. People realize the courage it takes to even get in there, and that’s another big thing we try to communicate. Win or lose, just getting in there is what’s important.”
Although the club attracts a large community and welcomes new members each year, many people never try it themselves. When asked what advice could only be learned from stepping into the ring as a Bengal, the captains had different but powerful responses. Johnson spoke on the self-assuredness he has learned.
“In other sports, there are lots of other factors that could impact you,” he said. “But in the ring, it is just you against them, and it’s just down to you.”
He emphasized the importance of having a lot of faith and trust in yourself. He claimed that the Bouts were a “celebration of your hard work, [and] as all things in life, you’ve put in the time and now it’s time to show it off.”
For Amorosa, his journey as a Bengal taught him different lessons that he will carry moving forward.
“Now, when I do other stressful things, they are not as stressful as getting into the ring, and it builds courage and makes other things easier,” he said. “It’s not like the Rocky movies, and you often fall to the level of training you put in. No one gets in there and doesn’t do well who hasn’t trained really hard. It goes into all other aspects of life.”
While the two captains have not been to Bangladesh themselves to see the ways their funds have helped the Holy Cross missions, they are unbelievably proud of the members of the club who consistently go out of their way to fight for a cause bigger than themselves.
The passion and pride these two take in their roles for the Bengal Bouts is undeniable, and they are always willing to talk about the club. Amorosa encouraged those who would not normally try boxing to give it a shot, no matter what year you are in school or your level of experience, because it is never too late to join.
