Dante Kirkman W4 Dylan Carlson... From the opening bell, Stanford graduate Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman (5-0, 2 KOs) showcased complete command, scoring a dominant unanimous decision victory over Dylan Carlson (2-11-3, 1 KO) in a four-round bout this past Saturday at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Promoted by Nasser Niavaroni of Uppercut Boxing Promotions, the middleweight bout saw Kirkman bring the heat early and often, walking Carlson down and unleashing combinations throughout. Judges saw it the same way, scoring the bout 40-36 across the board in favor of Kirkman. “I felt sharp in there,” Kirkman said after the fight. “From the first round on, I wanted to make a statement by setting the pace and showing what I’ve been working on in camp. I respect Carlson for coming to fight, but I knew I had the tools to control every round—and I think I did that.”

 

 

With a growing fan base and momentum on his side, Kirkman is hungry for more before the year ends. “I’d love to get back in there one more time before the end of 2025,” he shared. “I’m healthy, I’m motivated, and I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of what I can do. Every fight, I’m leveling up.”

 

Balancing brains and brawn, Kirkman brings an unusual pedigree to the sport, having completed a rigorous academic journey at Stanford University before launching his professional boxing career. “Four years at Stanford taught me discipline and mental toughness,” Kirkman reflected. “Now, I’m learning how to channel that same drive into my boxing career. Every fight is another step forward, and I’m starting to see the picture come together.”