MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Boxing Club at the United Community Center (UCC) has played an important role in Milwaukee's Hispanic community over the past four decades.

Students in the club have won countless trophies over the years. But for those who train here regularly, the lessons and the community the sport brings are even more important.

On this day, Violet Lopez put on her hand straps to get ready for a sparring match.The sixteen-year-old has been boxing with the United Community Center’s Boxing Club since she was 8 years old.

“My cousins were doing it and it has been a thing in my family for a really long time now, so I thought I would carry on the trend, but I was also the first girl in my family to do it,” said Lopez.

Lopez said it brings her a great sense of pride to carry on her family tradition.

(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)

She also said during her young career she has won nine national titles as an amateur boxer. She believes the sport has also taught her a lot outside the ring.

“Growing up doing it, made me realize how mentally strong I am because I can push myself and I can be determined and even making sacrifices and stuff like even outside of boxing, hanging out with friends or missing family events to be in the gym, preparing for the next thing,” said Lopez.

Angel Villareal Jr. is the head coach of the boxing club. He has held that position since 2011.

As he helped one of his students through their jab routine, he thought about the boxing club’s history that included producing Olympic boxers like Israel Acosta.

(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)

“Just continuing the tradition and the hard work and also not everyone becomes a champion so we deal with a lot of that,” said Villareal, “We are also proud of the people that became champions outside of the ring and not just inside the ring.”

He hopes to instill the same values of discipline and work ethic that he learned when he was a young boxer at the United Community Center.

“For me, I understand that many people may not have the same talent or the same skill level but I alway ask people to put in the same effort, the same work, the same amount of time as the other person,” said Villareal. “You know they may not get the same result but they will be better than what they were prior to starting.”

Lopez said growing up in this community and learning how to box at the center has made the sport that much better for her.

“Knowing that I am comfortable and I can talk to the people around me and they can relate to what I’m doing in the sport of boxing and they are understanding and they give good advice and they are always there when you need them is just something that is really big in this boxing community,” said Lopez.

Lopez said she is excited to continue boxing, and she hopes to do it for years to come.