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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 5, 2009

THIS PSYCH MAJOR'S RECORD IS 3-0
Student by day ... but also a prized fighter

By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Boxer Isaac Arasato, 26, works out with his coach Joel Kim at the Palolo Recreational Center. Arasato recently turned pro after winning the Hawai'i State and Regional Boxing Championship title in his weight class every year from 2005 to 2008.

Photos by Photos by NORMAN SHAPIRO | The Honolulu

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IN THIS CORNER

Name: Isaac Arasato

Age: 26

Profession: Professional boxer, full-time student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and part-time painter

Home: Kaimuki

Height: 5 feet 6

Weight: 135 pounds

Stays in shape by: Working out at the Palolo Boxing Club at Palolo District Park and running.

Workout habits: Arasato works out six days a week. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, he goes to the gym to spar, shadow box, hit a heavy bag, jump rope, do plyometrics and do calisthenics. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, he runs "anywhere from three to six miles, depending on how I feel that day," he said.

When and why I started working out: Arasato started boxing in 1999 during his junior year in high school.

"I was working out at the Central YMCA, and I saw this guy 'punching the air' in the weight room," he recalled. "So I asked him what he was training (for) and he said boxing, and that I should come and check out their class."

My good foods: "I eat a fresh salad and fresh fruits every day, and I eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast. I also drink a lot of water."

My bad foods: "I eat anything that tastes good. However, the saying goes, 'Whatever tastes good is usually not good for you.' But I believe in balance and moderation. I believe that if you eat in moderation and eat a balanced diet with the essential nutrients that the body needs, then you can enjoy all the foods you love. I have to resist the tendency to overindulge."

My biggest motivator: "Trying to maximize my potential. I believe that there are no limits."

What saves my sanity: "Family, friends, beach, boxing. Realizing how quickly life can end helps me to focus on what is important in my life."

My next challenge: "Becoming fluent in a second language."

Advice for those in the same boat: "All things are possible to those who believe. Balance is the key to life. Work hard and always try to do the right thing because someone is always watching."

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STATS

For more information about professional boxer Isaac Arasato and his upcoming fights, check out www.myspace.com/isaacarasato

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Arasato stays in shape by working out at the Palolo Boxing Club at Palolo District Park, and also by running.

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Arasato stays in shape by working out at the Palolo Boxing Club at Palolo District Park, and also by running.

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When Isaac Arasato isn't hitting the books, he's hitting the heavy bag.

A psychology major with a 3.75 GPA at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Arasato, 26, is a boxer who recently turned pro after winning the Hawai'i State and Regional Boxing Championship title in his weight class every year from 2005 to 2008. He was also named the most outstanding boxer at the championships last year.

"It wasn't like I wanted to be a boxer," the Kaimuki resident said and laughed. "I kind of just stumbled into it."

Arasato was a junior at Kalani High School when he became interested in the sport. After graduating from Kalani in 2000, Arasato joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in San Diego. In 2001, he began competing in amateur boxing.

"I was part of the Camp Pendleton boxing team until I got deployed to Iraq (in 2003)," he said.

After his nine-month deployment, Arasato returned to San Diego and was later stationed in Hawai'i, where he continued boxing at Palolo Boxing Club.

As an amateur boxer in the 132-pound weight class, Arasato's wins include a U.S. National Boxing Championship bout in 2006 and state Golden Gloves titles in 2006 and 2007.

Since turning pro in October, Arasato has a record of 3-0, with all three victories by knockout. His next bout is scheduled in April.

"I'm going to take boxing as far as it takes me," Arasato said.

But Arasato is as much an academic as he is an athlete.

When he left the military in 2005, he attended Kapi'olani Community College. In 2007, he received a Presidential Scholarship from UH, where he plans to earn his bachelor's degree in May.

"I hope to go all the way to the Ph.D. level ... just to max out my potential, like I do with everything else," said Arasato, an aspiring guidance counselor.

Arasato is aware that he serves as a role model to many youths, especially those who frequent the Palolo gym where he trains. He encourages them to see boxing as a positive outlet.

"There are a lot of traits that boxing instills in individuals, such as discipline, commitment and respect ... things that can be applied in life," Arasato said. "For me, that's the way that I like to approach boxing. Boxing is secondary. It's something you enjoy."

Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.