Almost every morning, society, ethics and law senior Glenn Peacock hits the gym. Punching bags, speed bags, weights, repeat. The same routine, consistently every week since the fall. Glenn has a fight Thursday and prepares with one goal in mind: to win. Not for himself — well, maybe a little for himself — but moreso for charity.
Thursday night, 18 Aggie boxers will step into the Reed Arena ring and compete for a cause. Farmers Fight Night, or FFN, is a student charity boxing event, giving amateur fighters the chance to channel their service in a fun way. Proceeds will go towards United Way of Brazos Valley, a charitable organization that provides education and healthcare programs.
With previous boxing experience, Peacock said this opportunity piqued his interest and gave him the opportunity to advance his skills.
“I’ve done one year of technical boxing, and then this past year [I did] contact,” Peacock said. “I decided to sign up for Farmers Fight Night when it was posted in teams, and I’ve been doing contact ever since … [For] technical you’re just learning the fundamentals and getting in shape, but contact you’re using those fundamentals against another person, hitting them.”
FFN provided Peacock an avenue to do two things that align with his passions: box and give back.
“I wanted to see the other side of boxing,” Peacock said. “At first it was just technical, and then [for] Fight Night I’ll be able to do contact and try to use those skills. And [I signed up] because of the community service aspect, we’re raising money for those with cancer in the Brazos County area.”
Peacock’s opponent is aerospace engineering senior Jake Young. Enemies in the ring, these two boxers built a friendship outside of the fight. They practice alongside each other, working together in the gym and building up their skills. Young said he’s confident going into the big face-off and intends to prioritize fun and enjoyment over all else.
“We practiced together, we’ve trained together, he’s got a great head on his shoulders, and he’s a really athletic guy,” Young said. “He cares a lot about the charity that we’re supporting and a lot about Farmers Fight Night and everyone here, and I care a lot about him too. I would say we’re good friends outside of this. We’re just gonna put on a good show and whatever happens, happens. I’m looking forward to it.”
Peacock shared the same sentiment and said he is excited and looking forward to going against Young, someone both noble and respectable.
As someone who has seen firsthand the journey to FFN, Peacock’s friend and pseudo-coach, kinesiology senior Aiden Connor, said his admiration for Peacock grew as he witnessed his dedication.
“He hasn’t had, I’d say, official experience in boxing at all,” Connor said. “But once he started taking it seriously, [I was] like, ‘OK, this is something that’s like actually going to happen.’ So I’m really proud of him for going out there, and it takes a lot away from his academics like his study time, but he’s found the balance. It’s just really neat what he’s doing.”
Connor acts as friend and confidant for Peacock, encouraging him in tough moments and offering unwavering support as Peacock prepares for his three bouts with Young.
“I think he has a good foot in the door for it,” Connor said. “He’ll come back from practice and talk to me about what he’s learned. I have a little bit of experience in boxing. With some things he taught me, I was like, ‘OK, this happens to you, counter this way.’ I’m not saying I’m a coach or anything, but just some little tips and some advice to help him in his training.”
The image of bright lights and cheering fans fuels Young’s excitement and motivation, enhancing the thrill and further reinforcing the sense of a collective purpose.
“I think walking out to your own walkout song, having your own ring escorts, just seeing all the fans that are coming out there not only to see a boxing match, but support charity,” Young said. “The first time this has ever happened, like, ‘Hey people, students are going to go into Reed Arena and fight each other for like three hours, that’s so sick.’ I think being part of something that has taken a ton of work to get set up and being kind of the first one to ever do it, that’s going to be the cool part.”
Fear is not a big factor for the big night as Young said he will feel content afterward, despite the outcome.
“I’ve been told, like a month before this, by people that’ve done this before, ‘Hey, the faster you accept every single outcome that can happen is the faster you can actually have fun doing this,’” Young said. “I’m just gonna go out there, do my best and you’ve watched the Netflix documentary from Johnny Manziel, ‘Win or lose we booze.’ We’re just gonna get out there, do our best and whatever happens, I have a great support system. We’re gonna have fun after.”
In hopes of future growth for FFN, Peacock said he encourages participation because this experience merges notable aspects.
“You’re building a small family with other boxers and coaches that you kind of bond with on a different level and respect,” Peacock said. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to the community.”
