Intense physical training and competitive fighting may not sound like every student's favorite activity, but for the members of the UB Boxing Club, it is a way get in shape, build confidence and spread knowledge of boxing while having fun.
Chris Colt, a senior chemistry major, founded the club in the fall 2002 semester. The club has grown considerably since then, with close to 120 members currently enrolled.
According to Heanyi Bob-Nwachukwu, a junior electrical engineering major and current president of the UB Boxing club, the growth in membership is a stark contrast to when the club started with its inaugural ten members.
"The club started off as a group of friends that liked to watch boxing," said Bob-Nwachukwu.
Colt described how the club got started.
"I saw a sign (for a boxing club) and wanted to sign up," said Colt. "So I went and the club was terminated, but (the Student Association) told me to start it up again, so I took the initiative."
"We had a boxing club in the past, it didn't work out, but it looks like it had a rebirth," said Ed Michael, the UB Boxing Club's faculty advisor and an associate professor in the athletics department.
According to Bob-Nwachukwu, the next step for the club was to find a trainer, and Colt came across Dean Eoanuu. Eoanuu is a professional trainer, responsible for directing suitable training techniques for the members of the club. He evaluates the member's strengths and weaknesses and makes sure they are taking proper safety precautions.
In addition to focusing on actual matches, Bob-Nwachukwu said the club's goal is to touch on every aspect of the boxing world. The members participate in many different activities, from watching boxing rivalries to getting in shape and learning about self-defense, before they actually participate in physical competitions.
Michael said the wide variety of activities available to its members is what keeps the Boxing Club successful.
"The club has to offer something for everyone if it is going to thrive," said Michael.
According to Bob-Nwachukwu, the club wants to bring boxing not only to fanatics, but to those who are just a little curious. Through training, the club wants the individual to develop self-esteem, a sense of teamwork and self-discipline.
"We have a mission, to promote boxing as a recreational sport as well as a competitive one," said Bob-Nwachukwu.
In order to fund all of these activities, the members of the Boxing Club have become increasingly active in fundraising, according to Colt.
"We have bake sales, security gigs at the galas and the football games, we set up and break down at different events and we promote events where we show pay-per-view fights," he said.
Despite the various fundraising activities, Colt said the club does not always have the necessary funds for all of their activities. He added that donations are always welcome.
With an exciting field trip on the way, the fall semester is shaping up to be an exciting one for the Boxing Club, said Bob-Nwachukwu.
"This semester we are competing in the National Collegiate Boxing Association, which is a group of schools that have boxing teams and we compete against each other," he said.
According to Bob-Nwachukwu, not everyone in the club has to compete; there are different classes offered that cater to different levels of competition.
On Monday and Wednesday afternoons there are conditioning classes, which is basically a full boxer's workout. Eoanuu comes in on Sundays and conducts training sessions in Clark Hall from 2-5 p.m. Self-defense training is also offered and taught by Eoanuu.
More information about the club's full schedule is available at their Web site, http://wings.buffalo.edu/sa/boxing.
According to Bob-Nwachukwu, a person does not necessarily have to be interested in competing to be a member of the boxing club.
"There are people who join the club just to hang out and watch," said Bob-Nwachukwu. "30 people signed up just this semester that just wanted to get in shape."
"We accept everyone, no matter your skill," said Colt. "Older, retired, men, women - as long as you are in the UB community, you are welcomed to join the club," said Colt.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
