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Butte brothers train hard to make it in the tough world of amateur boxing

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BUTTE - For Butte brothers Eli and Ethan Wroblewski, the sport of boxing is a family affair.

Their father, a former boxer himself, says his boys take it to another level.

“When I was an amateur, I was committed, but nothing like them,” said Kevin Wroblewski.

Eli is 16 and Ethan is 17; they take the sport seriously and train hard in Anaconda six days a week so they can stay competitive when they travel across the country for their amateur bouts.

“I think that this kid wants to beat me too, so got to train harder than him,” said Ethan.

Eli said, “Before my boxing matches, I mostly breathe, I mostly meditate and I relax and that’s about it, and when that bell goes I go in that ring and do what I got to do.”

Their trainer Chris Eamon noted, “These guys are throwbacks, they’re like, I can sit and talk Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis, whatever, to these guys, these guys love boxing. That’s what makes them special, how much they love the sport.”

The brothers credit boxing for giving them confidence and keeping them on the right path.

“I was getting into a little trouble and things like that, but boxing really, really helped me out with that,” said Ethan.

Eli added, “You know, what boxing is in my heart is something I really enjoy and something I want to do for a living and something to thrive for.”

Eli is practicing body blows here, because you kill the body the head falls. And these boys are really serious, Go head!

“I think the most important thing to say is it makes me feel alive. When I’m out there boxing, doing what I love to do, I think that’s the thing that puts the smile on my face, is just going out there and competing and doing my thing,” said Ethan.