Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: Multimedia

Media Credit: Shaminder Dulai

Patrick Myers and Jeremiah Smith will be bobbing and weaving their way to UC Berkeley today to duke it out in the boxing ring, in the hopes of coming home champions.



The Western regional for the National Collegiate Boxing Association will be held at UC

Berkeley starting today, and will run through Saturday.

Myers and Smith are both members of the SJSU boxing club.



"I'm really excited, I can't wait," said Myers, the team captain and president of the club.

Smith, a senior majoring in sociology, will be graduating this spring. "So I have to do good," he said.

The regional competition hosts all West Coast colleges that are registered with the National Collegiate Boxing Association.

Competitors are drawn out of a hat with one loss resulting in elimination.

According to Myers, the boxing club has 10 members all ranging in skill. Only five of the members have competed this year. Only Myers and Smith will be fighting in the regional competition.

Boxing was a NCAA sport until 1954, when a student from Wisconsin died in the ring from a concussion during a match.

The sport returned to SJSU in 2000 in the form of a club sport.

Community member TJ Trujillo has been the coach of the boxing club since its incarnation in 2000. His boxing roots stretch back 25 years.

"I use to train with (the students), then I hurt my back." Trujillo said

The team practices at the Police Athletic League stadium and the Washington United Youth Center on First Street in San Jose.

"We don't have a place at school, there's a lot of red tape with it." Myers said.

The boxing club practices with youths participating in a community boxing program.

"By (the SJSU students) being here, it does motivate the younger kids," Trujillo said.

According to Trujillo, having the SJSU boxing club at the youth center shows the younger kids that you can go to school and box.

"These are your prospects for ultimate fighting," Trujillo said, laughing while pointing to the younger boxers working out on the bags.

Smith and Myers sparred with each other during practice on Tuesday to help prepare for the regional competition.

"You always want to keep your eyes on your opponent," Trujillo yelled into the ring at the two.

Both boxers are in different weight classes. Myers weighs 147 pounds, while Smith weighs in at 165 pounds, twenty pounds lighter then when he started training last April.

"I know I'm going to do good. I can tell I'm getting in better shape," Smith said.

Teammate Armondo Cervantes helped to exercise Smith and Myers, sparring with both of them in the ring.

During his fight with Smith, Cervantes was hit in the face and obtained a bloody nose.

"He's determined to want to come back as a winner," Trujillo said of Smith.

Cervantes sparred with Myers, having to stop occasionally so Trujillo could wipe the blood off his face.

"Keep your hands up and don't get hit," Trujillo shouted at Cervantes.

At the end of the sparring exercise, Myers and Smith, as well as the ring, were speckled with Cervantes' blood.

Trujillo said that both Myers and Smith have a lot of heart, and it shows in the ring.

"I think the boys will do fine as far as winning," said Trujillo. "They both have a good chance."

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