Sheffield University student Will Donnelly is now back home in Maidenhead but will likely remember his three years spent “in a city with everything to offer” as much for winning his boxing bout with friend and fellow student Lennie Blagg as for his successful studies leading to a BA in business management, with his graduation having taken place on 23rd July.

Twenty-one-year-old Will grew up in Maidenhead with his younger sister before starting his business management degree in Yorkshire’s second-biggest city in 2023. The student boxers had completed six weeks of training at Ross Burkinshaw’s Boss Box Fit in Darnall. Burkinshaw is well known in Yorkshire as an English, Commonwealth and European WBO champion. The three two-minute round encounter between Will and Lennie was described by one boxing pundit as “about the most brutal but brilliant six-minute high- octane display of boxing bravery and pure life-enhancing heart ever seen in a novice student bout.”

Will’s sixth form studies were built around the full-time football programme organised by the John Madejksi Academy. “Football has always been my priority, and this last season I was Sheffield University's first team captain, leading the team to a league title win, a cup final and remaining unbeaten at varsity. However, Wilder Fight Night was the best bit yet of my newly adult life,” said Will. “I can’t put it into words. Thrilling from the moment I made my ring walk to Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I remember to demonstrate techniques learnt while trying to put power into my shots. Shocked at being rocked by a vicious punch from Lennie early on but coming back to win by digging deep to prove aggression, speed and endurance. Then the elation of being declared the winner.”

“I love a challenge, but getting all the attention while becoming known as a boxer is the main reason I signed up, although my mum wasn’t too happy. Twenty supporters from home went to Sheffield for the fight. I’ve learned never to criticise a boxer until you’ve competed yourself because although getting hit in the head is not as bad as the thought of it, you do get hurt by being hit repeatedly. Lennie’s a well-built power puncher. I’m now motivated to try other combat sports as I go travelling. The whole fight experience was amazing. I learnt new skills and became comfortable with being uncomfortable. I’m absolutely the fittest I’ve ever been, and I made some good friends. Learning a new skill, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable – everything was brilliant from start to finish. Which sums up my time in Sheffield. The heart of the North. A hilly, friendly city that’s given me so very much and where I’ve made wonderful memories to last a lifetime.”

“I started posting online about diet, fitness and exercise two years ago. I’ve gained over 6000 followers while working with brands including Deliveroo, Myoprotein and Google Gemini. I’m back home for a year concentrating on developing the Reptic app, which I’ve built with my close friend and boxing cornerman Will Saunders. It’s already available on the App Store.”

Reptic is a social workout tracking app. You track your workouts with weight, reps, duration, heart rate, etc., and then upload for others to see, like, and hopefully commend you on progress. Think Strava but for the gym. Fitness should be accessible and bring people together. No one should have to feel isolated as they get healthier and work towards their goals. This app will hopefully make us happy and wealthy young men, as it achieves market dominance, and people ask each other, ‘do you reptic your results?' I'd encourage people to try the app out and let us know how to improve it.”



For further information about Reptic and Will’s fitness content, contact him via Instagram @wd.fitness1 or e-mail willfdonnelly@gmail.com .