Tommy Duquette has been winning tournaments since he was 17-years-old. Now 23, he's following a family pedigree of championship-caliber boxing.

He's a two-time New England champion (just like grandpa), a Northeast regional champion and Golden Gloves medal-winner. Tommy doesn't count his wins, but clearly remembers losing just ten of his 70+ career fights. His most recently loss, a controversial decision in the first round of the U.S. Championships in Denver, was nothing but a speed bump.  

"I felt like I should have won," he said. "I'm going out to this tournament right now to redeem myself."

Tommy, who's originally from Waltham, was just then packing for San Antonio and the Police Athletic League tournament, one of USA Boxing three major, yearly competitions. Training demands three or more hours every day, including sparring with pros Danny O'Connor and Venezuelan brawler Patrick Lopez.  

"I try to make myself as elusive as possible," he said of his fight style. "I try and stay on the outside and score points, but if I have to I can get inside and get tough and throw power."

Tommy's always been a natural in the ring, but he's in no rush to turn pro. Experienced amateurs get better contracts, he said, more money and more respect. He's also hedging his bets, pusuing a degree in business administration at Massachusetts Bay Community College. In juggling the two, he's noticed a real parallel between the benefits of a degree and a healthy amateur career.

"It's like going to college," Tommy explained. "If you went to go get a job at the New York Times and you're just some guy off the street you'd have no chance. But if you get a journalism degree, get a few stories under your belt and they're gonna hire you and give you better money."

Tommy left San Antonio with a silver medal.

Watching Victor Nicholl pace around the ring, pop a left jab and follow around with a big right hook, you kind of get the idea he likes to hit people. He only started boxing about a year ago, when an ankle injury forced him out of Taekwondo. In fact for Victor, boxing is a sport of opportunity.

"Nah I mean it's just to stay in shape," he said. "Boxing is a good workout."

His injury affects his style in the ring as well. Victor doesn't bob and weave, instead standing nearly flat-footed and maneuvering deliberately, looking for openings. Competition has made him much more aggressive, throwing heavy combinations at the slightest flash of weakness.

"I started as a boxer, kind of a puncher," he said. "Look at someone and figure out what they're doing and counter punch."

Victor hails from Tyone, Ireland, having come to Boston in 2003. His amateur career is just beginning. He's 4-2, has won the Rocky Marchiano tournament and will compete in the Golden Gloves this winter. While his heart is with martial arts (he fondly mentioned watching Bruce Lee as a kid) boxing appeals to Victor for its primal roots. Boxing is how a fight occurs on the street, Victor says, and as long as people like fighting, they'll like boxing.

He doesn't aspire to box professionally, but says he'd listen if his trainers suggested otherwise. For now he's content to just keep throwing haymakers, until something forces him on to whatever's next.

"Like I say, it'll be work, women or age pretty much, you know, you get married or something," he said. "Or else work gets to be so much you can't get over here."

By age alone, Hector Hernandez might be called past his prime. At 32-years-old, he's one of the older fighters at Boston Boxing, a fact that's pushing him to turn pro before it's too late.

"A lot of people tell me that stuff," he said. "I had the great Mickey Rourke tell me that too."

He's talkative and charismatic, always making an entrance and barking encouragement from the corner. When I first asked Ed when I could catch Hector, he recommended I come back that evening when the women were working out. Hector liked to walk in around then and take his shirt off, he explained.

"If I listen to my trainer I'll do well as a pro fighter," Hector, a 152-pound welterweight, said. "I don't listen much sometimes, that's my problem."

His style might just suit him well in the pro ranks. Hector is methodical out of the corner, throws most of his punches late in the fight and conserves his energy.

"The thing is I could go five, six, seven even eight rounds longer than anyone in this gym," Hector boasted. "I'm not a quick fighter. I could be if I wanted to but if I go any quicker then that I'll get tired."

A Boston resident for fifteen years, Hector grew up in Lawrence, MA, although he was born in The Bronx. He came to Boston Boxing three years ago with every intention to fight. Listening to the man, he's also determined to turn pro, take on the middleweights or be a champion one day.

As an amateur he's 7-2, competing in the Golden Gloves twice and when I first met him, was training to compete for the Rocky Marciano title belt the following week. Hector also can't wait for his payday, saying, "That money ah, I want to get paid man." 

If titles were won and lost with confidence, Hector would be a household name. Still he's not afraid to admit his faults: he tries for too many knockout punches and doesn't always listen to his trainer. Hector engages his audience as a character in the ring, one who clearly loves every second under the lights.

"It's a great sport," he said, "And it keeps you out of trouble and it keeps you working hard. It keeps you focused. If you're not focused you're not gonna make it in boxing."

Romolli first found boxing at an air force base in Concord, MA. He has less experience than a lot of the other guys at Boston Boxing, but his style is audacious. He's soft spoken and very polite, but in the ring his formidible reach and aggressive style are anything but quiet. 

"I've always liked boxing ever since I was young," he said. "I've always been interested in it, even when I was in school. School just wasn't right for me, so I chose to box."

His work ethic was readily apparent. Romolli is a regular character at the gym who arrives early and will spar with anyone. As a 165-pound middleweight, he's only beginning his career as an amateur. When I spoke with Marco, he was tired, but excited for his first amateur fight that Friday.

"I feel great," he said, "I just need to rest right now. I haven't gotten a rest in about a week."

Romolli acknowledged boxing's dwindling popularity, but doesn't give it much thought. As he was growing up, he watched with admiration as Iron Mike lit the heavyweight division on fire. As long as he keeps working hard, he said, crediting his trainers for opening doors for him, he "should be fine."