PALO ALTO, CA – Undefeated middleweight prospect Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman (4-0, 2 KOs) will make his return to the ring on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. The 4-round bout, opponent TBA, will be featured on the action-packed “Thunder Showdown III” card, promoted by Nasser Niavaroni’s Uppercut Boxing Promotions.

This fight marks Kirkman’s first bout since graduating from Stanford University, where he balanced a rigorous academic schedule with his undefeated boxing career. “It feels amazing to be back,” said Kirkman. “I’ve missed the rhythm of fight camp, the pressure of fight week, and the energy of the ring. Now that school is behind me, it’s time to go full throttle.”

A proud native of Palo Alto, Kirkman will once again have the home crowd behind him at Thunder Valley—just a short drive from where he grew up and trained. “Fighting at Thunder Valley is nice because it’s close to home, so I’ll have my whole support system in the building—family, friends, even a few professors, probably,” stated Kirkman. “That energy pushes me to put on a show, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”

Kirkman, known for his incredible work rate, calculated pressure, and explosive athletic ability, sees this return bout as a critical step in building momentum toward his goal of becoming a top contender in the middleweight division. “Every fight is a step up the ladder,” he concluded. “Getting this W in front of my people? That’s motivation. The middleweight division is stacked, and I want my name in that conversation. This is just the beginning and I’m working toward that top 10 ranking.”