Stanford academic Dante Kirkman’s balancing boxing with studies

Middleweight Dante Kirkman is navigating a path few have dared to tread – juggling the demands of professional boxing with the academic rigor of Stanford University. 

On Saturday, August 31, Kirkman will step into the ring at the Marriott on Broadway in Oakland, when he faces Miguel Soto-Garcia.

By day, 22-year-old Dante Kirkman is an art student specializing in documentary photography, with a focus on gentrification issues in East Palo Alto. By night, he transforms into “The Inferno,” a nickname inspired by Dante Alighieri’s “Dante’s Inferno,” reflecting the calm intensity Kirkman (1-0) brings to the ring. On Saturday, he’ll need that composure as he faces 30-year-old Northern California veteran Soto-Garcia (1-3), who has gone rounds with solid regional talent and poses a challenging test for the young prospect at the developmental level.

Kirkman’s journey is far from typical. Growing up in Palo Alto, he was inspired by his older brother Tremaine, who graduated from Stanford in 2016. Despite his academic ambitions, boxing remained his first love.

“Boxing is always my number one,” Kirkman said. “So I kept fighting, going to national tournaments, while making sure I did what I needed to do academically to get into Stanford.”

Kirkman has been under the tutelage of Eddie Croft, a respected coach with deep roots in Bay Area boxing, since he was 10 years old. Croft, who fought legends like Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, has been a crucial influence. Kirkman is somewhat relieved to have moved past the amateur circuit, where he felt his style was less suited to the three-round format.

“Eddie has always filled my mind with knowledge,” Kirkman said. “n the pros, I finally get to use my full skill set, and it’s been a great experience.”

Outside the ring, Kirkman’s experiences are just as impressive. He’s interned with USA Boxing and Mayweather Promotions, gaining first-hand insight into boxing at the highest level, including being ringside for Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios. It’s clear that Kirkman is not just a student but a student of the game.

“Those internships were great. I learned a lot, both from a boxer’s perspective and a business perspective,” Kirkman explained.

Balancing academia and boxing has given Kirkman a unique outlook. He moves between two different worlds – academia and the fight game – each offering distinct experiences and challenges. Starting out as a regional fighter, Kirkman aims to bridge both worlds, using his platform to introduce new audiences to the sport.

“I live a double life,” he said. “At Stanford, I’m introducing people to boxing who might never have done a sport in their life. In boxing, I’m bringing more of an intellectual and business perspective to how fighters can manage their careers.”

Looking ahead, Kirkman dreams of combining these two worlds in a way only he can – by headlining a prize fight.

“My dream would be to fight in one of the Stanford stadiums, whether it’s basketball or football, with the tree and the band,” Kirkman said. “Seeing how electric the Stanford crowd is at games and bringing that into boxing would be something special.”