Boxing continues to make a comeback in Hawaii, particularly at the amateur level. It gets no bigger than this weekend with the State Regional Championships at Palolo Valley District Park gym.

Boxers representing five islands and nearly two dozen clubs statewide will compete in tournament and non-tournament bouts starting tonight at 7:30. Although organizers don’t have a set card yet — much will depend on this afternoon’s weigh-ins — they are expecting about 30 fights over the two-day period, with semifinals tonight and title bouts Saturday.

Adding to the excitement is that this is an Olympic year, with next month’s USA Boxing National Championships the last chance for U.S. boxers to advance to an Olympic qualifier. The U.S. already has three fighters qualified for the London Games as winners of their class at last year’s world championships. However, seven weight classes still have slots, which will be filled with the winners of May’s Americas Qualifying Tournament.

It’s a long shot to make the U.S. team for 2012, perhaps as long as a trip from Tonga to London. But that’s the dream for Filipe Taulanga, a 19-year-old Tongan who is also a U.S. citizen.

Taulanga, who moved from Tonga to Kauai when he was 9, has been boxing for about a year through the Palolo Boxing Club and is considered a rising star in Hawaii. The heavyweight is 7-2, with his two losses coming on split decisions.

"He has great finesse, very good footwork and combinations, good work ethic," said Palolo BC coach Joel Kim. "And he’s a good boy, no alcohol, goes to church. Our baby of the team."

Taulanga grew up in a boxing family but did not have a chance to get into the sport until moving to Oahu when he turned 18. He met Leokaua Latu, a coach at Palolo BC, at church and their conversation turned to boxing.

"I found out about the club through him," Taulanga said. "Palolo feels like home. You come in, relax, watch the others, work out. I found a home here.

"I am excited about this weekend. It’s my first (state tournament). The goal is the Olympics. It is exciting to think about maybe making it."

Taulanga is realistic about his chances.

"I’d like to think that I’m always ready for anything," he said. "I know I need more training. But losing (those two decisions) just made me train harder."

Taulanga has won his last five bouts coming into this week. He said he runs 3 miles every morning, then works out at the gym. His routine includes four 3-minute rounds each of shadow boxing and on the speed bag and heavy bag.

"He trains hard," Latu said. "He’s hard-working and loves the sport."

It’s tough love sometimes.

"Boxing is a tough, brutal sport," said Sean Wilson, another coach at Palolo BC. "And it takes courage to get in the ring.

"I boxed in the ’80s and now I’ve been here for about four years. I met Joel through Stevenson Middle School. We both love teaching, but we both really love boxing."

This week’s event is an open tournament for boxers ages 17-34 with at least five previous fights. The state regional Junior Olympics for boxers 8-16 will be in May.