Two-time National Boxing Champ Aidan Jubb ’26 (BUS) has a series of rituals before he steps into the ring.

He always wears the same well-worn pair of Adidas socks, a favorite from his first fight. He reads the same prayers, listens to instrumental music followed by 50 Cent, and eats a handful of Mike & Ike candy.

For Jubb, captain of the UConn Boxing Team and a senior majoring in real estate, his training, diligence, and rituals have paid off with two National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) championships in his weight class. He is hoping for a third trophy in the championship this April in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“When I walk into the ring, I’m saying to myself, ‘I’m going to win! I’m going to win! I’m going to win!,’ ’’ he says. “It’s a crazy feeling. It seems like the rounds take forever, but then the final bell rings and you think, ‘Is it already over?’’’

Jubb, a native of Southwick, Massachusetts, says one of the biggest misconceptions about boxing is that it is strictly a sport of might. Instead, he describes it as similar to a chess match in terms of strategy.

“You can go in there swinging and throwing as hard as you can, but that alone won’t allow you to win. There are a lot of intricacies in boxing,’’ he says. “You focus on breathing and footwork. You’re always thinking and strategizing. You’re weighing your opponent’s physical attributes, height, are they left- or right-handed. You’re thinking about how to make an opening, about how to fake. It’s not just: ‘Go in there and get angry.’’’

Coach Campisano: Boxers Compete for the Love of the Sport

The UConn Boxing Team is ranked No. 3 in the country, tied with the team from the U.S. Air Force Academy. For coach Mike Campisano, who assembles a team of recruits who for the most part have never boxed before, it is quite an accomplishment. It is very rare for a non-military team to be so highly ranked, because they don’t have the equipment and funding that the service academies do.

The UConn Boxing Team typically has 100 to 200 students try out each Fall, and selects around 60 for the team. This year’s team includes 10 women. The team’s lightest boxer fights in the 106-pound weight class, and heaviest fights at 220 pounds.

“They’re working so hard,’’ says Campisano, who has coached the team for 10 years. “I want them to get recognition like the other athletes. There is no money and no scholarship for UConn boxers. I demand a great deal from them. They’re incredible. They’re doing it for the love of the sport.’’

Jubb drives to Hartford for Saturday workouts, and comes to Storrs from Massachusetts to train during breaks.

“I want someone who is a Jekyll and Hyde personality; polite on campus but ‘someone else’ in the ring,’’ Campisano says. “Aidan doesn’t drink, smoke, or party. He’s very physical in the ring. He’s also very modest. He’s been a great leader and does whatever I ask of him. He’s one of the top student boxers I’ve had.”

Campisano says he’s looking forward to this year’s championship.

“Last year we were third in the country. Our motto is that we’re skipping over No. 2,’’ Campisano says. “We’re hoping to come home with a national title, like the basketball teams. Interest in boxing is growing on campus, and it is growing because of people like Aidan.’’

Real Estate Program Caught His Attention

Jubb enrolled in UConn as an economics major, but transferred to the School of Business as a sophomore, majoring in commercial real estate. His interest in business developed in an unusual way.

“My friends and I got ‘let go’ from a commercial landscaping company that we were working for after freshman year,’’ he says. “We decided to start our own business. It was short-lived, but we had a successful business cutting lawns for homeowners. We created an LLC, and I drew up the customer contracts and the agreements between my friends.’’

“For some reason I thought there was a link between property care and real estate,’’ he says, smiling. “It turns out they’re not really related at all, but by luck I enjoyed the real estate program a great deal.’’

After he graduates in May, Jubb plans to attend law school and pursue a career in real estate law.

“Aidan has been a student of mine in a couple of courses and what stands out most is his quiet determination,’’ says Professor David Wharmby, director of the Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies. “He’s very smart, but most importantly, he’s deliberate. He takes time to understand complex challenges and then works methodically toward thoughtful solutions. He’s someone who doesn’t seek attention, but consistently earns respect through preparation, discipline and follow through.’’

This semester, Jubb has taken on a leadership role in Hillside Real Estate Investors, UConn’s student-led real estate investment fund, and demonstrated strong judgment and steady leadership, Wharmby says.

“Whether he ultimately becomes a lawyer, a developer, or something else entirely, he’s the kind of person who will be excellent at whatever path he chooses,’’ Wharmby says.

‘We All Cheer Each Other On’

Jubb became interested in boxing as a freshman, when a floormate mentioned he was trying out for the team. The friend ultimately backed out, but Jubb went to the kickoff event.

“At the tryouts, two members of the team were All-Americans who won at nationals. They got these huge plaques. I was like, ‘I want to get that!’ I had watched some fights, but I never thought about being a boxer before,’’ says Jubb, whose favorite boxers are Devin Haney and Mike Tyson.

“My Dad was excited about it, but my Mom said, ‘You couldn’t have found anything else to join at the Activity Fair?!’’ Jubb recalls, laughing.

Boxing is the longest-running college sport, with the season extending from August to April.

“It is very demanding and especially hard with school,’’ Jubb says. “But our coach builds a culture that makes you want to show up and work hard.’’

He says his experience in the ring has strengthened his leadership, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure.

He alternates between 5-plus mile runs and sprints, lifting weights, and four days of practice. The only day off for him is Sunday, and that’s when he eats as much as he wants.

Jubb is in the 195-pound weight class now, up from 185 pounds in prior years. He has been fortunate to never have suffered a serious injury in the ring.

“We all cheer each other on wherever we go,’’ he says of the club. “We’re all loud, all screaming, and always hyping each other up. No one ever forgets how nerve-wracking it is the first time you step in the ring.’’

But does he ever feel badly when he lands a hard punch?

“Yes, if I’m sparring with my friends. Then I feel terrible,’’ he says. “But otherwise, the reality is, it’s a sport. You shut off that energy when you’re competing. Winning is great and that’s when the hard work pays off.”

In June, he will likely box for the final time, representing the U.S. in an international tournament in Greece.

Alum Remembers Surprise Punch

Josh Cronkhite ’22 (BUS), a part-time assistant coach, says he was a senior when Jubb was a freshman. “Once we saw Aidan, we knew he had potential. He went from not knowing how to throw a punch to becoming an elite athlete, a gifted boxer,’’ he says.

Jubb now serves as one of three Athlete Representatives on the NCBA Board of Directors.

“He brought us two national championships. He showed everyone what we, UConn, could do. And as a leader, he really stepped up. He’s thoughtful about what he wants to say and has elevated his presence to new heights. My junior year there were just two of us at nationals, and now there are 10 or more,’’ Cronkhite says. “We can already see the athletes who want to follow in his footsteps.’’

Cronkhite, recalls how, as a senior, the freshman Jubb punched him hard while they were sparring. The move took Cronkhite by surprise.

“I think I still feel that punch to this day,’’ Cronkhite says, laughing.