We are proud to share that Kinan Bazzi, a freshman in the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program, has won the national championship title at the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA) National Tournament in Macon, Georgia.
Bazzi, a neurobiology and physiology major on the pre-med track, was first inspired to start boxing after watching a documentary about Muhammad Ali while stuck at his home in Middletown, MD, during the COVID-19 quarantine. He became inspired seeing Ali’s passion, motivation, and sense of purpose.
“Ali looked so motivated by something I had never seen before. I wanted to feel alive like that,” said Bazzi.
This powerful impression led him to pick up a punching bag at home and eventually pursue boxing seriously, setting him on the path to this recent national championship.
At the USIBA tournament with the UMD Boxing Club team last month, he competed in his weight class and won each of his matches by knockout over three consecutive days of competition. His achievement highlights not only his dedication and athleticism but also the discipline and resilience that he brings to his academic pursuits.
Reflecting on his experience, Bazzi shared, “Boxing has taught me to be honest with myself and to prepare for every challenge—whether it’s in the ring or the classroom. If I don’t put in the work, it shows. That lesson has helped me in my studies and in life.”
Now, he plans to continue training and competing in national boxing tournaments while continuing his studies at UMD and working toward a future career in medicine. The ILS program is known for its rigorous curriculum and collaborative community, and Bazzi’s success in the ring reflects the same commitment to perseverance that he demonstrates in his coursework. He credits the mental toughness and focus developed through boxing as key to managing the challenges of both competition and coursework.
We look forward to seeing his continued success!
The Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) Program provides a holistic, accelerated curriculum for talented STEM students, combining rigorous coursework, research requirements, service-learning experiences, and a supportive living-learning community to prepare students for successful careers in research, medicine, and education. Learn more about the ILS program at ils.umd.edu.
