Junior middleweight Dante Kirkman scored his first career knockout on Saturday with a third-round TKO of Jose Rodriguez at the Fox Theater in Redwood City, California.
Fighting in front of his hometown crowd, the 23-year-old Kirkman, 3-0 (1 KO), floored Rodriguez twice with body shots before the referee stopped the bout at 2 minutes and 37 seconds of Round 3.
“Getting my first knockout was an amazing feeling,” Kirkman said. “It’s something every fighter dreams of, and to do it in front of my hometown fans made it even more special. I’ve been putting in the hard work in the gym, and it’s incredible to see it all pay off in the ring.”
The only professional boxer to also matriculate as a full-time student at Stanford University, Kirkman appreciates the fan support. “There’s nothing like fighting in front of the people who’ve supported me from the start. Palo Alto and Stanford have been my home, and I’m proud to represent both. My goal is to be the face of Stanford Boxing and inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter where they come from.”
With his first knockout in the books, Kirkman now has his sights set on much higher.
“This win is just the beginning,” Kirkman said. “I’m excited to get back to training and keep improving. I want to stay active, build on this momentum and work my way up the rankings. The goal is to show that I belong among the best in the division.”
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